Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 22, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

AUG171016    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 01 COMMUNICATION BREAKDOW    $17.99
SEP170923    ALL NEW WOLVERINE #27 LEG    $3.99
SEP170818    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #13 LEG    $3.99
SEP170899    BLACK PANTHER #167 FRISON CONNECTING VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170898    BLACK PANTHER #167 LEG    $3.99
SEP178150    CABLE #150 2ND PTG LIEFELD VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170936    CABLE #151 LEG    $3.99
SEP170917    CAPTAIN MARVEL #126 LEG    $3.99
SEP178151    CHAMPIONS #13 2ND PTG MORA VAR LEG    $3.99
AUG171018    DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN TP    $15.99
AUG171027    DOCTOR STRANGE AND SORCERERS SUPREME TP VOL 02 TIME AFTER TI    $17.99
SEP170957    GENERATION X #9    $3.99
AUG171009    GENERATIONS HC    $50.00
SEP170939    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TELLTALE SERIES #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP170940    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TELLTALE SERIES #5 (OF 5) GAME VAR    $3.99
AUG171014    I AM GROOT TP    $17.99
SEP178152    INCREDIBLE HULK #709 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR LEG    $3.99
AUG171019    INFAMOUS IRON MAN TP VOL 02 ABSOLUTION OF DOOM    $17.99
SEP178153    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #593 2ND PTG DAVIS LEG    $3.99
SEP170907    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #594 LEG    $3.99
SEP170912    LUKE CAGE #167 LEG    $3.99
SEP178154    MIGHTY THOR #700 2ND PTG HANS VAR LEG    $5.99
SEP178155    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #7 2ND PTG MORA VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170926    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #8 LEG    $3.99
SEP170863    MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #25 LEG    $3.99
AUG171033    NICK FURY TP DEEP COVER CAPERS VOL 01    $17.99
SEP170949    PUNISHER PLATOON #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170919    ROYALS #11 LEG    $3.99
SEP170897    SILVER SABLE WILD PACK #36 CHRISTOPHER TRADING CARD VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170895    SILVER SABLE WILD PACK #36 LEG    $3.99
SEP178156    SPIDER-GWEN #25 2ND PTG RANDOLPH VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170817    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #24 LEG    $3.99
SEP170971    STAR WARS #39    $3.99
AUG171045    STAR WARS DARTH VADER DARK LORD SITH TP VOL 01 IMPERIAL MACH    $17.99
SEP170873    THANOS #13 LEG    $3.99
AUG171026    ULTIMATES 2 TP VOL 02 ETERNITY WAR    $15.99
AUG171037    VENOM CARNAGE UNLEASHED TP NEW PTG    $34.99
AUG171031    X-MEN BLUE TP VOL 02    $17.99
SEP170930    X-MEN GOLD #16 LEG    $3.99

Review: MARVEL LEGACY #1

MARVEL LEGACY No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
ART: Esad Ribic with Steve McNiven
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
ADDITIONAL ARTISTS: Chris Samnee; Russell Dauterman; Alex Maleev; Ed McGuinness; Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger; Pepe Larraz; Jim Cheung; Daniel Acuña; Greg Land and Jay Leisten; Mike Deodato, Jr.; David Marquez
COVER: Joe Quesada and Kevin Nowlan with Richard Isanove
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross; Mark Brooks; John Tyler Christopher; Mike Deodato, Jr.; Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson; Greg Land with Frank D'Armata; Amy Reeder; Skottie Young
64pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Marvel Legacy #1 is a new one-shot comic book from Marvel Comics.  I don't really know its purpose, other than what I read on the Internet.  After a year of reportedly falling sales of its comic books, Marvel does what it and DC Comics normally do:  initiate a reboot or a re-launch or hit-the-refresh/restart button, etc.  Such a rehash... I mean such a refresh is usually preceded by some kind of large scale publishing event, as it was here.  I guess that was the Secret Empire miniseries and the corresponding tie-ins and spin-offs.

SO I'LL SAVE YOU SOME TIME:  Marvel Legacy #1 has a few entertaining moments, with the best being the Wolverine reveal.  Some of it piqued my interest, but most it fell flat for me.  If you are looking for something exceptional, great, memorable, etc., Marvel Legacy #1 is not it, and it certainly is not worth the $5.99 cover price.  That said, you only need to keep reading this review if you usually enjoy my ramblings...

So here we go again; Marvel Legacy #1 launches the next big start-over.  I have read a lot of web commentary in which people compare this comic book to DC Comics' DC Universe Rebirth from last year.  I don't see the resemblance, and Rebirth has purpose and direction (at least to me), whereas Marvel Legacy #1 reads like a bunch of teasing and anticipation balled up together.

Marvel Legacy #1 has an omniscient narrator, Valeria Richards, the second child of Reed Richards and Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four.  She talks about legacies and begins her narration “One Million Years Ago.”  Something happened back then; that something plus some more bad stuff is coming back today.  Get ready.

Yep, that's it – something wicked this way comes, eventually.  The main story is written by Jason Aaron and drawn mainly by Esad Ribic, with some of it drawn by Steve McNiven.  Interspersed between segments of the main story are some one and two-page excerpts from upcoming Legacy launches – like Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's upcoming run on Captain America (Steve Rogers).

That's what this is all about, right?  A return to original i.e. traditional i.e. “white” characters.  Some believe that Marvel angered its aging white male fan base by recasting too many of its characters as black, Latino, Asian, female or some combination thereof.  Here's an anecdote for you.  For years, white male comic book readers told me that they did not want white comic books or black comic books, but they wanted good comic books.  Okay... Black male Spider-Man, Black female Iron Man, White female Hawkeye, Pan-Asian Muslim Ms. Marvel, White lady Thor are the leads of some very well written comic book series.  I know that because I read them.  But whiny White comic book retailers, clueless comic book corporate middle management, and fans who don't read books they complain about are driving this need for Marvel Comics to reset.

But the real villains here are Marvel Comics' shitty editorial decisions, arrogant management, piss-poor publishing plans, and virtually non-existent marketing.  Marvel Legacy #1 exists for the same reasons Marvel NOW, All-New Marvel NOW, and Marvel Now & Laters existed – all of the above and Marvel's addiction to the sales bump it gets from #1 issues.

Marvel Comics publishes too many comic books and has been doing so for 30 years.  Many of those comic books exist because Marvel will throw a lot of money at “star creators” to produce comics; or because someone will come up with some cute gimmick; or simply to grab more market share; or because a hit Marvel Studios movie will mean launching 10 new comic books directly, indirectly, vaguely, and/or even tangentially related to the movie.  Baby Groot the comic book series, y'all.

Too many titles frustrate readers for various readers, but especially because they cannot keep up with all those new comic books.  Marvel Legacy #1 is another pretend fix for symptoms that arise from Marvel's poor decision making.  That decision making needs a cure; the symptoms will go away after the cure.  For all Marvel's talk of a return to classic Marvel storytelling, next year it will do something like recast all its characters as Buddhists golden retrievers.

Marvel Comics' real legacy is that, no matter who owned Marvel, they never appreciated the artists and writers who really created the characters and stories that made Marvel a business and cultural force.  They held on tightly to Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and more while being dismissive of the talent, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, that drew those characters into existence.  Did it ever occur to those bosses how many more great characters and stories creators like Kirby and Ditko would have created for Marvel had the bosses acknowledged them financially and personally in a manner befitting people who multi-million dollar franchises?

So Marvel Legacy #1 epitomizes Marvel's real legacy – the short-sighted, self-serving choices instead of the long term choices that come with more risk and less immediate gratification.  Plus, Marvel Legacy #1 is just another comic book, fast food hamburger off the corporate conveyor belt – granted that there is some rather nice art inside.

C
4 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.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 1, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

JAN170901    AMERICA #1    $3.99
JAN170958    AVENGERS #5    $3.99
JAN171015    BULLSEYE #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
DEC161107    CARNAGE USA TP NEW PTG    $19.99
JAN170961    CHAMPIONS #6    $3.99
JAN170986    CLONE CONSPIRACY OMEGA    $4.99
JAN170987    CLONE CONSPIRACY OMEGA GRANOV VAR    $4.99
SEP161115    DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $100.00
JAN171058    DEADPOOL #28    $3.99
SEP161114    DEADPOOL ADAMANTIUM COLLECTION SLIPCASE HC    $200.00
DEC161096    DEATH OF X TP    $17.99
JAN171038    DOCTOR STRANGE #18    $3.99
SEP161116    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY BY JIM VALENTINO OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JAN171030    HAWKEYE #4    $3.99
JUN160964    KARNAK TP FLAW IN ALL THINGS    $17.99
JAN171146    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES X-MEN BLUE (BUNDLE OF 5)    $45.00
JAN171147    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES X-MEN GOLD (BUNDLE OF 5)    $45.00
JAN171078    MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ULTRON REVOLUTION #9    $2.99
JAN171079    MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN VS SINISTER SIX #8    $2.99
JAN170907    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #4 (OF 5)    $4.99
JAN170908    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #4 (OF 5) FRANCAVILLA 50S MOVIE POSTER VA    $4.99
JAN170910    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #4 (OF 5) HOMARE VAR    $4.99
JAN170911    MONSTERS UNLEASHED #4 (OF 5) LAROCCA MONSTER VAR    $4.99
JAN171042    MOON KNIGHT #12    $3.99
DEC161102    NEW AVENGERS BY BENDIS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 03    $39.99
DEC168678    OLD MAN LOGAN 21 PAST LIVES POSTCARDS (BUNDLE OF 100) (Net)    $5.00
SEP161119    SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 DEODATO CVR    $125.00
SEP161120    SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 DM ZECK VAR ED    $125.00
JAN171000    SILK #18    $3.99
JAN171046    SLAPSTICK #4    $3.99
JAN170997    SPIDER-MAN 2099 #21    $3.99
JAN171005    SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING PRELUDE #1 (OF 2)    $3.99
JAN171083    STAR WARS #29    $3.99
JAN170921    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1.MU    $4.99
SEP161123    UNCANNY INHUMANS HC VOL 01    $34.99
JAN171022    UNSTOPPABLE WASP #3    $3.99
DEC161111    X-FACTOR EPIC COLLECTION TP GENESIS AND APOCALYPSE (RES)    $34.99

Review: INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Mike Deodato with Frank Martin
VARIANT COVERS: Gabriele Dell'Otto; Marco D'Alfonso; Skottie Young; John Tyler Christopher
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

I did not know that a few years ago it was revealed that Tony Stark was adopted as a baby by Howard and Maria Stark (in Iron Man #17 – 2013 series).  Tony's quest to uncover his legacy is at the heart of the new Iron Man comic book series, International Iron Man.  It is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Alex Maleev; colored by Paul Mounts; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Who is Tony Stark, really?  International Iron Man #1 begins the quest to discover the answer to that question.  The story opens with Iron Man in Sofia Bulgaria at the “Monument to the Soviet Army.”  He has just got his butt kicked.  His mind drifts back 20 years earlier when Tony was a student at the University of Cambridge.  That is where he met Cassandra Gillespie, a mysterious young woman from an even more mysterious family that is marked for death.

I have never been a big fan of Iron Man, not the way I heart for Spider-Man (Parker and Morales), Batman (and Robin), and certain X-Men.  One Iron Man book is enough for me, and that one is currently Invincible Iron Man, which is also written by Brian Michael Bendis.  I guess this is my way of saying that I did not feel particularly moved by this first issue of International Iron Man.

Bendis and Alex Maleev are remembered for their run on Daredevil last decade, so fans of that comic book may rejoice at the chance to see if this team can do for Iron Man what it did for that book.  I wouldn't know what they did, as I have never read a single issue of the Bendis-Maleev Daredevil.

So I'm coming from a place of ignorance in some ways.  Apparently, Doctor Doom will play a part in this series, and while traveling the globe, Iron Man will discover things about the Marvel Universe that he did not know existed.  I'm kinda intrigued.  I may keep reading International Iron Man, but I won't go out of my way.  So how is that for a review?

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.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2016

MARVEL COMICS

SEP161064    ALL NEW X-MEN #15    $3.99
AUG168911    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 JRSR VAR NOW    $4.99
SEP160946    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 NOW    $4.99
SEP161162    AVENGERS #1.1 BY KITSON POSTER    $8.99
SEP160928    AVENGERS #1.1 CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR NOW    $3.99
SEP160925    AVENGERS #1.1 NOW    $3.99
AUG161029    AVENGERS K TP BOOK 03 AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED    $24.99
SEP160917    BLACK PANTHER WORLD OF WAKANDA #1 NOW    $4.99
SEP160907    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #7 NOW    $3.99
AUG161000    CIVIL WAR II CHOOSING SIDES TP    $19.99
AUG161004    CIVIL WAR II GODS OF WAR TP    $15.99
AUG168088    CLONE CONSPIRACY #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG DELLOTTO VAR    $4.99
SEP160990    CLONE CONSPIRACY #2 (OF 5) BAGLEY VAR CC    $3.99
SEP160989    CLONE CONSPIRACY #2 (OF 5) CC    $3.99
SEP160991    CLONE CONSPIRACY #2 (OF 5) LOZANO TEASER VAR CC    $3.99
SEP161043    DAREDEVIL #13    $3.99
SEP161091    DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE SAILOR #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
MAY160915    DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 DELLOTTO CVR    $125.00
SEP161086    DEADPOOL BACK IN BLACK #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP161087    DEADPOOL BACK IN BLACK #3 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
AUG161011    DEADPOOL V GAMBIT TP V IS FOR VS    $16.99
SEP161160    GHOST RIDER BY CHECCHETTO POSTER    $8.99
SEP161050    GWENPOOL #8    $3.99
SEP160893    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 NOW    $3.99
SEP161155    IVX BY YU POSTER    $8.99
AUG168302    LCSD 2016 NOW CHAMPIONS #1 NEAL ADAMS VAR    $4.99
SEP161097    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #14    $2.99
AUG161035    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY DIGEST TP VOL 03    $9.99
MAY160918    MMW DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 07    $75.00
MAY160919    MMW DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 07 DM VAR ED 238    $75.00
SEP161030    MOSAIC #2    $3.99
SEP160929    POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #10 NOW    $3.99
AUG161017    ROCKET RACCOON AND GROOT TP VOL 02    $15.99
SEP161158    ROCKET RACCOON BY NAKAYAMA POSTER    $8.99
AUG161033    RUNAWAYS TP VOL 01 PRIDE AND JOY NEW PTG    $14.99
SEP161156    SLAPSTICK BY NAKAYAMA POSTER    $8.99
SEP161034    SOLO #2    $3.99
SEP161017    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #11    $3.99
SEP161110    STAR WARS FORCE AWAKENS ADAPTATION #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP161105    STAR WARS POE DAMERON #8    $3.99
SEP161157    STAR-LORD BY ANKA POSTER    $8.99
SEP161161    THANOS BY DEODATO POSTER    $8.99
AUG161009    UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL TP VOL 01 BELIEVE IT    $16.99
SEP161016    UNCANNY AVENGERS #16    $3.99
SEP161068    UNCANNY X-MEN #15    $3.99
SEP161159    VENOM BY SANDOVAL POSTER    $8.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 10, 2015

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR151703     21ST CENTURY TANK GIRL #1 REG HEWLETT (MR)     $3.99
OCT141196     ADVENTURE TIME FLIP SIDE TP VOL 01     $19.99
APR151251     ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT #6     $3.99
APR151252     ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT #6 SUBSCRIPTION GARLAND     $3.99
APR150956     ADVENTURES OF AERO GIRL #2 MAIN CVR     $3.99
MAR151354     ADVENTURES OF TAD MARTIN #SICK SICK SIX     $6.66
MAR158551     AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #8 2ND PTG FRANCAVILLA CVR     $3.99
APR151702     AGENCY #2     $3.99
APR151168     ANNE BONNIE #4     $3.99
APR151815     ARATA THE LEGEND GN VOL 22     $9.99
APR158123     ARCADIA #1 (2ND PTG)     $3.99
MAR150917     ARCHIE GIANT COMICS COLLECTION TP     $7.99
SEP141596     BANZAI GIRL HC VOL 01 BY DREAMS BETRAYED     $24.95
SEP141595     BANZAI GIRL TP VOL 01 BY DREAMS BETRAYED     $14.95
APR151192     BILL & TED MOST TRIUMPHANT RETURN #4     $3.99
APR151504     BLUBBER #1     $3.99
JAN151485     BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENTURY SUNDAYS HC VOL 03 1937 - 1940     $75.00
MAR150860     CATERER ONE SHOT (MR)     $4.95
APR151891     CHARMED SEASON 10 #9 A CVR SEIDMAN (MR)     $3.99
APR151236     CLARENCE #1     $3.99
FEB151031     CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 (MR)     $3.99
FEB151032     CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 AMERICAN HISTORY X WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151033     CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 CROSSED CULTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151035     CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 FUTURE TENSE CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151034     CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 NEW WORLD ORDER WRAP BAGGED CVR (MR)     $5.99
MAR158550     DEAD DROP #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
APR151800     DEADMAN WONDERLAND GN VOL 09 (MR)     $9.99
APR151708     DEATH SENTENCE LONDON #1 REG MONTYNERO (MR)     $3.99
APR151709     DEATH SENTENCE LONDON #1 SUBSCRIPTION DOWLING (MR)     $3.99
MAR151018     DISCIPLES #1 (MR)     $3.99
DEC141670     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #11 REG AJ     $3.99
DEC141671     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #11 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
JAN151609     DOCTOR WHO 12TH HC VOL 01 TERRORFORMER     $19.99
NOV141672     EMMA MANGA CLASSICS GN     $19.99
SEP141598     EXPOSURE HC VOL 02 BLIND FAITH     $29.95
SEP141597     EXPOSURE TP VOL 02 BLIND FAITH     $19.95
APR151550     FORAGER GN     $9.99
APR151085     FOUR POINTS #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR A     $3.99
APR151086     FOUR POINTS #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR B     $3.99
MAR150900     FOX (DARK CIRCLE) #3 HASPIEL REG CVR     $3.99
APR151893     GFT JUNGLE BOOK TP VOL 03 FALL OF THE WILD     $15.99
APR151878     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #11 COMIC CON A CVR LILLY     $3.99
APR151879     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #11 COMIC CON B CVR MILLER     $3.99
APR151880     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #11 COMIC CON C CVR HAMMOND     $3.99
FEB150938     GOLD DIGGER #222     $3.99
MAR151506     GRIEVOUS JOURNEY OF ICHABOD AZRAEL #4     $3.99
APR151596     HARVESTER #5     $3.99
APR150959     HERO CATS #6     $3.99
MAR151060     HIT 1957 #3     $3.99
MAR150864     ISLAND OF MEMORY GN VOL 01 (MR)     $11.95
MAR150865     IT WILL ALL HURT #1 (MR)     $8.00
MAR150918     JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #13     $4.99
APR151271     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 (MR)     $3.99
APR151272     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 ALTERNATE HISTORY CVR (MR)     $3.99
APR151276     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 AUXILIARY CVR (MR)     $3.99
APR151274     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 PREMIUM PURE ART CVR (MR)     $9.99
APR151273     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 SULTRY CVR (MR)     $3.99
APR151275     LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #5 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAR151236     LADY RAWHIDE LADY ZORRO #3     $3.99
APR151217     LANTERN CITY #2     $3.99
APR151337     LEGENDERRY VAMPIRELLA #5     $3.99
APR151357     LOOKING FOR GROUP #3 CVR A SILVANI MAIN     $4.99
APR151806     MAGI GN VOL 12     $9.99
APR151544     MANGAMAN GN     $9.99
FEB150924     METALLIC SILENCE #1 (MR)     $3.99
MAR150873     METALLIC SILENCE #2 (MR)     $3.99
APR151491     MIKES PLACE TRUE STORY LOVE BLUES TERROR IN TEL AVIV GN (MR)     $22.99
APR151219     MOUSE GUARD LEGENDS OF GUARD VOL 03 #4     $3.99
APR151076     NEW ZODIAX #3     $3.50
APR150961     NUTMEG TP VOL 01     $11.99
MAR151399     OUTSIDE CIRCLE GN     $19.95
APR151210     PALMIOTTI BRADY BIG CON JOB #4     $3.99
FEB151617     PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR TP VOL 02     $6.99
APR151479     PUSSYCATS #2 (MR)     $3.99
APR150953     RACHEL RISING #34     $3.99
APR151786     RAI TP VOL 02 BATTLE FOR NEW JAPAN     $14.99
APR151381     REANIMATOR #3     $3.99
APR151246     REGULAR SHOW #24     $3.99
APR151215     ROBOCOP 2014 #12 (MR)     $3.99
OCT140989     ROD ESPINOSAS STEAMPUNK SNOW QUEEN #2     $3.99
FEB151568     ROY THOMAS PRESENTS BRIEFER FRANKENSTEIN SLIPCASE 1954     $64.99
APR151560     SAY I LOVE YOU GN VOL 08     $10.99
MAR150866     SECRET VOICE #2 (MR)     $8.00
APR151802     SERAPH OF END VAMPIRE REIGN GN VOL 05     $9.99
JAN151532     SIXTH GUN DAYS OF THE DEAD TP     $19.99
FEB150905     SKYSTORM ORIGINS #2     $3.99
MAR150924     SONIC SUPER DIGEST #12     $6.99
MAR150932     SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #273 REG CVR     $3.99
APR151173     SPONGEBOB COMICS #45     $2.99
MAR150843     STRAY WHO KILLED THE DOBERMAN TP     $14.99
APR151698     SUPER BILLY GOATS GRUFF GN     $5.95
APR151331     SWORDS OF SORROW VAMPIRELLA JENNIFER BLOOD #2     $3.99
DEC141549     TERRY & PIRATES GEORGE WUNDER YEARS HC VOL 02 1948-1949     $60.00
MAR150869     TITAN #1 (MR)     $4.95
APR151309     TOWERKIND GN     $15.00
APR151108     UBER TP VOL 04 (MR)     $19.99
APR151776     UNITY #19 CVR A BERNARD (NEW ARC)     $3.99
APR151777     UNITY #19 CVR B KANO (NEW ARC)     $3.99
APR151676     US JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 10     $19.99
MAR151022     WE CAN NEVER GO HOME #3 (MR)     $3.99
APR151771     X-O MANOWAR 25TH ANN SPECIAL #1 CVR A NORD (ONE SHOT)     $3.99

MAGAZINES
APR151165     BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #17 (MR)     $5.99
APR152035     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1460     PI
MAR151798     LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #34     $9.95
DEC141930     MEGAMI MAR 2015     $16.60
DEC141931     NEWTYPE MAR 2015     $16.00
DEC141928     RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #156     $9.95
APR152047     RUE MORGUE SPECIAL WEIRD STATS & MORBID FACTS #4     $14.95
APR152042     ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #4     $4.99

BOOKS
MAR151762     AVENGER DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 06 NEW PTG     $14.95
APR151938     BIG BAD WORLD CONCEPT ART FOR VIDEO GAMES BEGINNERS     $29.95
APR151949     DOC SAVAGE CLASSIC SUPERPACK #1     $39.95
FEB151833     DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 81 TUNNEL TERROR     $14.95
SEP141603     MIKE DEODATO JR SKETCHBOOK SC     $19.95
APR151945     MY LITTLE PONY CASTLES OF EQUESTRIA POP UP BOOK HC     $24.99
APR151906     NAKED FASHION GIRLS HC (MR)     $34.95
NOV141836     PINOCCHIO DISNEY EPIC HC     $50.00
APR151950     SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 96 DEATH ABOUT TOWN & NORTH WOODS MY     $14.95
APR151907     TATTOO SUPER MODELS HC (MR)     $34.95
APR151918     WORLD OF READING ANT-MAN THIS IS ANT-MAN SC (NOTE PRICE)     $3.99

Review: Hickman's Writing is Great in AVENGERS #39

AVENGERS #39
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Jonathan Hickman
ART: Mike Deodato
COLORS: Frank Martin
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer with Brad Anderson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

“You Can't Win: Part 1”

This is how you kick off a new story arc.  Jonathan Hickman tells the story in a message from Reed Richards to Val Ventura.  Back in the day, we would have called this a letter, but I don't know, now.  Is this an email, a post on Facebook, a tweet, or Instagram?  This social media stuff is just moving so fast that I can't keep up.

Knowing Reed, he probably found a way to insert it into one of Val's genes and it will manifest itself after Val goes through puberty.  Reed is teaching Val how to make plans.  He is using the Illuminati's conflict with Captain America and S.H.I.E.L.D. to illustrate the lesson.  Hickman's use of the chess piece to let us know that these plans are strategies for winning a war, not landscaping.

Everything about this story is grandiose, or if you prefer, it goes hard.  Cap falls into Reed's trap when he knows it is a trap.  War Machine is stretching himself to limits that may kill him.  Captain Marvel is talking stuff about the Hulk.  The action is spectacular.  I am talking about “are you read to rumble?!” action.  Hickman entertains us on multiple levels.  This is one of those times that reading a comic book added something to my life.

Visceral as well as cerebral:  the scene with Captain Marvel and the Hulk shows us why you need to be able to do what you say you can do.  I won't tell the end of the story, but I will say that Reed teaches Cap and Val the lesson well.

Hickman is a master at telling team stories.  Reed was the focus of this story, but all of the characters have their individual moments.  I'll say this again:  the ending is awesome.  Hickman tells a great epic while giving us great insight into the character of Reed Richards.  If this is the set-up, then, the rest of this arc will be something at which to Marvel.  Yeah, I said that corny bull.  Hickman has given us stories worthy of comic's ultimate team.

The art is pleasing to the eyes.  The facial expressions of the characters helps to depict what is happening in the story.  I said that the story was grandiose, and the art follows in the same vein.  The art is big without giving you the feeling that it 's just taking up space.  The only criticism that I have is that the colors are too dark.  I like my Avengers bright.

I give Avengers #39 a rating of “Recommend it to a Friend,” #1 (of 5) – the top rating on the Al-O-Meter.  If you're a comic book fan you need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Albert Avilla


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

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

I Reads You Review: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1

S.H.I.E.L.D #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Mark Waid
PENCILS: Carlos Pacheco
INKS: Mariano Taibo with Jason Pax
COLORS: Dono Almara
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Julian Totino Tedesco
VARIANT COVERS: Mahmud Asrar with Dono Almara; John Tyler Christopher; Mike Deodato with Edgar Delgado; David Marquez with Laura Martin; Steve McNiven with Marte Gracia; Sara Pichelli with Dono Almara; Valerio Schiti with Laura Martin; Ryan Stegman with Rom Fajardo; Skottie Young
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

S.H.I.E.L.D created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“Perfect Bullets”

S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, law-enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency that appears in Marvel Comics titles.  The agency often deals with paranormal and super-human threats.  This agency was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Strange Tales #135 (cover dated: August 1965).  The acronym, S.H.I.E.L.D., originally stood for “Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division,” but  changed in 1991 to “Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate.”

S.H.I.E.L.D. plays a prominent role in the films and television series (live-action and animated) that are part of the “Marvel Cinematic Universe.”  Currently, the S.H.I.E.L.D. acronym stands for “Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.”

S.H.I.E.L.D. is the star of an ABC television series, “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”  On the last week of the 2014, Marvel Comics launched a new S.H.I.E.L.D. comic book series.  Mark Waid will write the series with the art provided by a rotating roster of popular comic book artists, beginning with the first issue's penciller, Carlos Pacheco.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (“Perfect Bullets”) introduces Phil Coulson, the star of the ABC series.  This is his first day on the job as S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Ops Supreme Commander, and waiting for him is a full-on invasion of Earth.  It seems that the hordes of the “Norse World” (Thor's stomping grounds) have arrived on Earth to unleash some destruction.

Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Knight, Blue Marvel, Hercules, Hyperion, Nova, Sunfire, Valkyrie, and The Vision have their hands full.  So it's up to Coulson to head to Sharzhad, a country beset by terrorists, and one of those terrorists may be the reason for the invasion.  Now, Coulson will need to align the “perfect bullets” to save the day.

I picked up a copy of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 because I knew a friend of mine would like to read it.  After reading it, he didn't seem impressed.  I'm not, either.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 isn't a bad read.  It's just nothing special or even worthy of much notice.  I have said this in other reviews I've written:  when Mark Waid is good, he's really good, but when he is not, he is mediocre.  I won't call him mediocre on S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, but he is in the sub-par zone.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is up to the third issue, as of the last time I looked.  I might try another issue, especially as characters from the ABC series will appear in the comic book.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

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

I Reads You Review: AVENGERS & X-MEN: Axis #1

AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Rick Remender
ART: Adam Kubert
COLORS: Laura Martin and Matt Milla
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Jim Cheung with Justin Ponsor
VARIANT COVERS:  Gabriele Dell'otto; Adam Kubert with Edgar Delgado; Mike Mayhew; Mico Suayan; Skottie Young; Chip Zdarsky; and The Young Guns with Mike Deodato with Frank Martin
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T+”

The Red Supremacy: Chapter 1

About three years ago, I read the first two issues of Avengers vs. X-Men (#0 and #1), and I didn't find anything that made me want to keep reading the much-anticipated and much-talked about event “maxi-series.”  So I don't know why I'm reading the new Avengers/X-Men crossover event miniseries, Avengers & X-Men: Axis.  Maybe, I'm curious?

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #1 (The Red Supremacy: Chapter 1) opens with a brief recap/overview of what has happened since the shocking end of Avengers vs. X-Men, in which the X-Man, Cyclops, killed his mentor and founder of the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier.  The result was the branding of Cyclops as a criminal and also the founding of the Uncanny Avengers, a unity squad of Avengers and X-Men.  Of course, a new team wouldn't make them better for long.

Fast forward:  Magneto kills Captain America's arch-nemesis, the Red Skull, which leads to his resurrection as “The Red Onslaught.”  Now, there is a wave of psychic energy and hate, initiated by Red Onslaught, because he possesses Prof. X's brain and psychic powers.  This psychic wave, or onslaught, if you will, has the world in turmoil, so the Avengers and X-Men have to come together to stop Red Onslaught.

Wow.  It has been an unknown number of years (but it is many) since I have read an issue of a comic book event series in which superheroes and super-villains engage in a slug fest.  Part of me enjoys seeing so many of the superheroes that I've known most of my life together, even the new versions.  I enjoyed the Scarlet Witch angle of this story, as well as the Scarlet Witch-Rogue subplot.  I think this Red Onslaught character is ridiculous, however.  I did not plan on reading any more of this, even while wondering why I was reading Avengers & X-Men: Axis #1 to begin with.

Then, I saw Sentinels at the end of the first issue, and then, I decided to read more.  I think that is how these superhero crossover events work.  The writers, artists, and editors throw so much into the event (something we can compare to a pot full of ingredients), and the readers are bound to find something to appeal to them.  So there you have it.  I thought I was out, but they dragged me back in.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 15 2014

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
NOV131306 07 GHOST GN VOL 08 $9.99
NOV130873 3 GUNS #6 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130913 ADVENTURE TIME #24 MAIN CVRS $3.99
NOV130912 ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 03 $34.99
OCT131277 ANNOYING ORANGE GN VOL 04 TALES FROM CRISPER $7.99
OCT131278 ANNOYING ORANGE HC VOL 04 TALES FROM CRISPER $11.99
NOV131290 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #17 REG HENRY $3.99
OCT130865 BETTY & VERONICA #269 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
NOV131304 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 49 $9.99
SEP130995 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV130863 CURSE #1 [DIG] $3.99
NOV138111 DAY MEN #2 (2ND PTG) $3.99
NOV131223 DEPARTMENT OF MONSTEROLOGY #4 $3.99
JUN131103 DF SUPERIOR CARNAGE #1 SHINICK SGN ED $16.99
NOV131305 EXCEL SAGA TP VOL 27 $9.99
OCT131239 FAIRY TALES OF OSCAR WILDE SC VOL 03 $8.99
NOV130917 GARFIELD TP VOL 03 $13.99
NOV131323 GFT DARK QUEEN A CVR SEJIC (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131324 GFT DARK QUEEN B CVR QUALANO (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131325 GFT DARK QUEEN C CVR EHNOT (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131326 GFT DARK QUEEN D CVR EHNOT BIKINI (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
OCT131430 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 A CVR TOLIBAO (MR) $2.99
OCT131431 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 B CVR ERIC J (MR) $2.99
OCT131432 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 C CVR MASSAFERA (MR) $2.99
NOV130843 GOD IS DEAD #5 (MR) $3.99
NOV130844 GOD IS DEAD #5 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV130845 GOD IS DEAD #5 ICONIC CVR (MR) $4.99
OCT130791 GOLDEN AGE GREATS SPOTLIGHT VOL 14 $29.95
NOV130814 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 (MR) $4.99
NOV130816 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 HORROR CVR (MR) $4.99
NOV130815 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 WRAP CVR (MR) $4.99
NOV131000 GRIMM #9 $3.99
NOV131277 HARBINGER #20 PULLBOX MONTOYA $3.99
NOV131276 HARBINGER #20 REG HENRY $3.99
NOV131243 HEARTS TOON BOOKS YR HC GN $12.95
NOV130876 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #12 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV131235 HIS FAVORITE GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99
NOV130878 HYPERNATURALS TP VOL 03 $16.99
NOV130867 IMAGINE AGENTS #4 [DIG] $3.99
NOV131024 JENNIFER BLOOD #35 (MR) $3.99
OCT130869 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #199 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP131322 LENORE VOLUME II #9 $3.99
NOV130959 LIL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 $3.99
NOV130960 LIL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
OCT130872 MEGA MAN #33 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
SEP131093 MISS FURY #8 CVR A TAN $3.99
SEP131094 MISS FURY #8 CVR B SYAF $3.99
SEP131095 MISS FURY #8 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
SEP131096 MISS FURY #8 CVR D EVELY $3.99
NOV131279 MUST READ VALIANT GREATEST HITS #1 $5.99
NOV131236 NIGHTS GN (MR) $12.99
NOV130993 NOIR #3 $3.99
OCT130795 PRINCELESS ENCORE ED #2 $2.99
SEP131015 REGULAR SHOW #8 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
NOV130827 ROVER RED CHARLIE #2 (MR) $3.99
NOV130828 ROVER RED CHARLIE #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT131291 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS CLASSIC PHANTOM LADY TP VOL 03 $24.99
SEP131284 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS PLANET COMICS SLIPCASE ED VOL 02 $64.99
NOV130979 SHADOW NOW #4 $3.99
NOV130858 SIMPSONS COMICS #208 $2.99
NOV131169 SIXTH GUN #37 $3.99
OCT130874 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #256 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
OCT130923 STITCHED #18 (MR) $3.99
OCT130925 STITCHED #18 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT130924 STITCHED #18 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV131284 UNITY #3 ORDERALL JG JONES $3.99
NOV131283 UNITY #3 REG BRAITHWAITE $3.99
MAY131059 WARLORD OF MARS #32 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES
NOV131444 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1387 PI
OCT131516 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #24 CLASSIC TV SERIES BOA $20.00
SEP131524 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #47 MARTIAN MANHUNTER WHITE $16.00
NOV131464 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #48 NEWSSTAND ED $9.99
NOV131465 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #48 PX ED $9.99

BOOKS
OCT131440 100 ILLUSTRATORS SLIPCASE ED $59.99
MAY131486 CAPTAIN FUTURE COLL ED HC VOL 03 $40.00
OCT131299 CARTOON ART MIKE DEODATO JR HC $24.95
OCT131298 CARTOON ART MIKE DEODATO JR SC $14.95
NOV131360 CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATED PIN-UP HC $34.99
NOV131382 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP COSMIC BOUNTY HUNTER $4.95
NOV131380 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP PRANKSTER PRIME TIME $4.95
NOV131381 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP SHADOW MASTERS $4.95
NOV131385 DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN YR TP RUMBLE IN RAINFOREST $4.95
NOV131383 DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN YR TP SWORD OF DRAGON $4.95
MAY131489 EDMOND HAMILTON COLL ED HC VOL 04 $40.00
NOV131387 MARVEL SPIDER-MAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK FAVORITES $6.99
OCT132371 WARHAMMER 40K THERE IS ONLY WAR SC $17.50
AUG131597 WHOS WHO OF DOCTOR WHO GT FRIENDS FOES COMPANIONS SC $27.99

Albert Avilla Reviews: The Fearless Defenders #1

The Fearless Defenders #1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Will Sliney
Cover: Mark Brooks
Variant Covers: Milo Manara; Mike Deodato and Rain Beredo; Skottie Young

The cover was really awesome. That’s what having a great cover is about; it gets your expectations up. The interior of the book did not meet those expectations.

The Defenders have always had trouble attracting readers, and this issue will not do any better. This kind of story could squeak by once the series had established itself. I’m not familiar with Mr. Bunn’s work, so I don’t know if this is leading into a great climax or if this is par for the course. If it’s par for the course, then, I am keeping my money. I like mystery, but too much mystery leaves the reader in the dark.

A first issue should pull you in and build up your expectations. This story made me nostalgic for Indiana Jones movies. Archeology has been the basis for a lot of good comic book stories. My question is where is the evil god behind the artifact that Misty acquired? Give us an awesome villain to look forward to seeing.

Marvel NOW gets a “Marvel scowl” for this venture. Valkyrie and Misty Knight really look cool on the cover. Let’s hope that Mr. Bunn can convert that coolness into good stories.

The interior art didn’t give any more than the writing. It was average comic book art.

I rate The Fearless Defenders #1 “Read a Friend’s Copy.”  #3 (of 5) on Al-O-Meter