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Monday, June 2, 2025
Image Comics from Lunar Distributors for June 4, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: FARMHAND #16
FARMHAND #16
IMAGE COMICS
STORY: Rob Guillory
ART: Rob Guillory
COLORS: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
LETTERS: Kody Chamberlain
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Burt Durand
COVER: Rob Guillory
32pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(April 2022)
Rated “M/ Mature”
Farmhand created by Rob Guillory
Chapter 16: “Fallow Earth”
Farmhand is a dark fantasy comic book series from comic book creator, Rob Guillory. Guillory is also known for his award-winning tenure on the long-running comic book, Chew (Image Comics), with writer John Layman. Farmhand is written and illustrated by Guillory; lettered by Kody Chamberlain (who also designed the Farmhand logo); and currently colored by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.
Farmhand sees Ezekiel “Zeke” Jenkins, a graphic designer and illustrator, return to his hometown of Freetown, Louisiana with his wife, Mae, and their children, Abigail and Riley. Zeke's father, Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins, and sister, Andrea (“Andy”), own and operate “Jenkins Family Farmaceutical Institute.” Using stem cell biotechnology, the “farm” grows plant-based replacement human organs and tissue. Once upon a time, transplant recipients saw this as a miracle. Now, Zeke and the rest of the world see the miracle as a curse.
Farmhand #16 (“Fallow Earth”) opens with a once upon a time – a flashback to when Jedidiah first staked his claim, had his vision, created a miracle, and first watched it turn into an abomination. Now, his ex-partner, Monica Thorne, is a demon who rules the world … perhaps.
She is certainly the power in what is left of Freetown and its inhabitants. Everyone is infected with the “Jedidiah seed,” the transgenic seed that combines human and plant DNA to produce human organs capable of being grafted onto patients. In addition, the Jenkins are also infected with family dysfunction, as Abigail finds herself caught in the cold war between her father and grandfather. Happily, there is sanctuary … for now.
THE LOWDOWN: It is exactly two years since Farmhand #15 arrived in comic book shops – just as the world was going into pandemic mode I had not forgotten about Farmhand, but I had forgotten how much I really liked it. This is a really and truly great comic book series.
For a long time, I thought of Farmhand as a kind of mix of the original version of “The Twilight Zone” television series and of Stephen King's dark fantasy fiction. However, Farmhand has both grown and evolved, and while it retains the touches of Rod Serling and of King, it has become something else. I won't call it dystopian or apocalyptic fiction, although there are elements of both.
It is metaphorical and allegorical, and I see that in Jed Jenkins, who has some Biblical level anger. Still, for the first time, I really identify with him. Like many Black men of a particular time, he has some scores to settle with the Jim Crow society a.k.a. American apartheid. His fall begins when his struggle becomes narcissism and revenge.
Like King, Rob Guillory has fashioned a great man vs. evil struggle without losing the human drama. Zeke, Jed, and the rest of the Jenkins got family problems, and Guillory won't let us escape them. The characters' personalities, motivations, and conflicts read as genuine. Farmhand is more than mere genre fiction because Rob's imagination gives his readers both an incalculable crypto-zoography and characters whose humanity rings as authentic and meaningful.
It is good to be down on the farm again. I hope you give Farmhand a try, dear readers.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of dark fantasy fiction of great comic books will want to be a Farmhand.
A+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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"Farmhand #16" is collected in FARMHAND VOLUME 4: THE SEED, which is available at Amazon.
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I Reads You Juniors: March 2025 - UPDATE #52
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Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).
TREATS - From AnotherCookie: There is a new online cookie retailer. It is called "AnotherCookie?" and the cookies are delicious.
NEWS:
EN MEMORIAM - From TheDailyCartoonist: American cartoonist and comic book and comics strip artist, Hy Eisman, has died at the age of 98, Thursday, March 27, 2025. He was the last artist to draw the "Little Lulu" comic strip before it was cancelled in 1984. He drew the "Katzenjammer Kids" comic strip from 1986 until 2006 when it went into reruns. In 1975, Hyman won a "National Cartoonist Society Award" for "Best Humor Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on Gold Key's "Little Lulu" comic book.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, and Alex Sinclair talk about the "Batman: Hush" sequel, "Batman: H2SH."
MARVEL STUDIOS - From ComicBookMovie: The site has the full cast list of the 27 actors set to star in Marvel's 2026 film, "Avengers: Doomsday."
From ComicBookMovie: That's not all folks. According to sources, more stars will be added to the cast list of "Avengers: Doomsday."
DIAMOND - From BleedingCool: Alliance Entertainment, a global distributor and wholesaler specializing in music, movies, video games, electronics, arcades, and collectables, has been selected as the winning bidder for Diamond Comic Distributors after its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The proposed acquisition, which is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, includes Diamond Comic Distributors (U.S.), Alliance Game Distributors (no relation to Alliance Entertainment), Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles, and Collectible Grading Authority. However, there is no mention of the following Diamond entities: Diamond UK, Diamond Select Toys, FandomWorld, Gentle Giant, or Free Comic Book Day.
BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD: The latest ediction of "The 2000 AD Creator Clips" is an audio interview with the great comic book artist, Simon Bisley ("Slaine: The Horned God," "Lobo"). It is available via "Soundcloud," and is the first of two parts.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Writer Mark Waid and artists Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck are producing a four-issue miniseries, "New History of the DC Universe." The first issue arrives Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
COMICS - From BleedingCool: What does a comic book artist make at Marvel and DC Comics when they're just starting out. Supposedly, it's $160 a page for pencils.
IDW - From ComicsBeat: IDW Publishing has announced three new "Star Trek" miniseries: "Star Trek: Red Shirts," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Destruction," and "Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming." All three are due later this year.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: After four years of rumors and teases, Joe Quesada reveals that he has his Marvel Comics project is a six-issue miniseries, "Marvel Knights: The World to Come." It features a story by Quesada and writer Christopher Priest and script by Priest. Richard Isanove will color the art. The story will feature Black Panther and Captain America and the first issue is due June 4, 2025.
MARVEL/DC - From BleedingCool: "Chew" artist and "Farmhand" creator, Rob Guillory, says he turned down a major Marvel or DC Comics revamp because of unsatisfactory page rage and a shaky guarantee of residuals.
BOOKS - From ComicsBulletin: Author George R.R. Martin has given an update on "The Winds of Winter," the sixth novel in his "A Song of Fire and Ice" series of novels, from which the HBO series, "Game of Thrones," was adapted. The update is that there is progress in the writing, but the book ain't coming out this year.
BRITISH COMICS - From BleedingCool: British comics creator, R.E. "Becky" Burke," has been freed from ICE detention after three weeks and is being flown back home to Great Britain.
From BleedingCool: There is now mass media coverage concerning the ICE detention of British comics creator, R.E. "Becky" Burke. The BBC and ITV are covering the case, which has fortunately made her case more of a priority. There is currently a GoFundMe page in order to help pay her legal fees, provide her with money for food and essentials while in detention (jail), and for visa advisory support, among other things.
From BleedingCool: British comics creator, R.E. Burke, has found herself caught up in an immigration melodrama. She was taken into custody by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) 11 days ago. She has apparently been taken to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Her father, Paul Burke, seeks help in the matter.
COMICS/CONTEST - From BleedingCool: Puffin, Penguin's new kids' graphic novel imprint, has launched a contest for under-represented creators. The contest starts May 2025. The plan is to publish the winner's graphic novel in 2027.
BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool: "Fast & Furious" franchise director, Justin Lin, will direct a film adapation of BRZRKR, the comic book created by actor Keanu Reeves and comics writer, Matt Kindt. The movie will be produced for Netflix.
WEBCOMICS - From BleedingCool: Webcomics giant, Webtoon, reports a 153 million dollar loss, although sales rose to 1.53 BILLION dollars in 2024.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Writer Nicole Maines talks about bringing the Secret Six back in the new six-issue miniseries, "Secret Six," with artist Stephen Segovia.
From YouTube: DC Comics has produced a trailer for writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee's "Batman: Hush 2." It begins in Batman #158, which goes on-sale March 26, 2025.
FILMS - From Variety: “Kirbyvision” is the name of a "definitive feature documentary" about legendary comic book artist and creator Jack Kirby. It is in development with acclaimed filmmaker Ricki Stern set to direct. Stern is best known for her work with her partner, Anne Sundberg, on such documentaries as “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” (2010) and “Reversing Roe” (2018). Jack Kirby is the co-creator and creator of numerous Marvel Comics characters, including "Captain America," which he co-created with his one-time partner, writer-artist Joe Simon. Kirby also created many DC Comics characters, most famously in "Fourth World" line of comic books.
COMICS/POLITICS - From BleedingCool: President Trump's 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada, China, and Mexico apparently go into effect today. It also will reportedly affect the printing, distribution, and selling of comic books.
COMICS - From BleedingCool: 21 graphic novels sold over 100,000 in U.S. bookstores in 2024. All of them were from Scholastic/Graphix. Dav Pilkey's "Dog Man" books dominated.
DC STUDIOS - From EW: "Lanterns," the HBO Original Series from DC Studios, has begun production. Kyle Chandler is starring as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre is starring as Green Lantern/John Stewart.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Writer Tom Kings talks about bringing his 12-issue miniseries, "The Penguin," to a close.
ELFQUEST - From Forbes: Wendy and Richard Pini, the couple behind the long-running ElfQuest independent comics series, are donating $500,000 to Columbia University (NYC) to endow and conserve the school library’s growing collection of comics, graphic novels and related prose works.
DIAMOND - From BleedingCool: Diamond Comic Distributors has sent out a letter about its upcoming Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction. "Bleeding Cool" has the text.
DC STUDIOS - From Variety: The website offers this article that includes a lot of DC Studios news, including two "Batman" films, a possible "Teen Titans" film, and a second season of "The Penguin." There is also news about several new animated series based on DC Comics' properties.
FANTAGRAPHICS - From BleedingCool: Fantagraphics Books has pulled out of Free Comic Book Day 2025, including pulling their "Lost Marvels" FCBD title. This story will be updated as information is available.
MARVEL/DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: The site has the full transcript of DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski's announcement at "ComicsPRO" of a new Marvel/DC Comics crossover. There will apparently be two one shots, "Marvel/DC" produced by Marvel Comics and "DC/Marvel" produced by DC Comics, which will be published later this year (2025).
From BleedingCool: There is big news out of "ComicsPRO," the comic book retailer summit held in Glendale, California. DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski followed the Keynote speech to take to the floor and announce a new crossover between the two comic book publishers. Two one-shots, "Marvel/DC" produced by Marvel Comics and "DC/Marvel" produced by DC Comics, will be published later this year (2025).
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Monday, March 3, 2025
Image Comics from Lunar Distributors for March 5, 2025
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
I Reads You Juniors: January 2024 - Update #62
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.
NEWS:
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Katie Kubert is the new editor of DC Comics' monthly "Batman" comic book series. Kubert is the granddaughter of the late comic book icon and legend, Joe Kubert, and the niece of the acclaimed artists, Adam Kubert and Andy Kubert.
DC STUDIOS - From THR: "House of the Dragon" actress, Milly Alcock, will play "Supergirl/Kara Zor-El" in the planned DC Studios' film, "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow." Alcock will appear in one or two DC projects before "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow."
COMICS TO FILM - From THR: "2000 AD's long-running comics serial, "Rogue Trooper," is being adapted as a 3D animated film. The voice cast will include Aneurin Barnard, Hayley Atwell, and Jack Lowden. “Rogue Trooper” will be written and directed by Duncan Jones, whose credits include “Source Code” and “Warcraft.” The film has wrapped principal photography at Rebellion Film Studios in the U.K. and is set to be finished next year.
DC GAMES - From YouTube: There is a now a deluxe trailer for the upcoming video game, "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League." The game is due Feb. 2nd, 2024 for the PSF, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
DC ANIMATED - From DCBlog: DC Comics' legendary event maxi-series, "Crisis on Infinite Earths," is being adapted as three-part animated film series. The producers talk about "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One."
DYNAMITE - From Dynamite: Comics scribe David Avallone has a message for readers about his upcoming miniseries, "Elvira Meets H.P. Lovecraft." First issue arrives Feb. 21st, 2024.
SONY SPIDER U - From ComicBook: "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" has received a "Best Animated Feature" Oscar nomination at the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards. The winners will be announced Sunday, March 10th, 2024. The previous film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar.
CHARITY - From BleedingCool: An update on the medical conditions and GoFundMe campaigns for comic books writers, Peter David and Brett Lewis.
EISNERS - From Popverse: When submissions for the "2024 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards" officially opened earlier this month (Jan. 2024), there was a surprise. The slot for "Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism" was not included among this year's categories for awards. It has apparently been folded into another category.
ORIGINAL ART - From OrlandoWeekly: The site has an article on the first ever "Original Art Expo," that is being held in Orlando, Florida Fri-to Sun, Jan. 26th-28th. The event will occur at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel at Universal Orlando. A number of big name artists will appear, including Amanda Conner, David Finch, Michael Golden, and Matt Wagner, to name a few.
DC GAMES - From YouTube: There is a teaser trailer for the upcoming video game, "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League." The game is due Feb. 2nd, 2024 for the PSF, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
IMAGE TO FILM - From YahooEntertainment: Jason Mamoa, Emmy-winner Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad), and more react to actor Channing Tatum's announcement that he is bringing Sam Keith's cult comic book, "The Maxx," to the big screen. Previously, "The Maxx" was a 13-episode animated television series for MTV in 1995.
BOOK BANS - From Boston: New legislative bills in the Massachusetts' House and Senate would protect school librarians selections and reduce book selections in the state.
PUBLISHING - From Deadline: "Sports Illustrated," the 70-year-old venerable sports news and features magazine, is probably dead.
CHARITY - From THR: Via "Humble Bundle," writer Jimmy Palmiotti is offering hundreds of pages of his comics at a steeply discounted price. The funds will go to the World Wildlife Fund. One of the comics offered, "Back to Brooklyn," was being developed as a feature film by the late Oscar-nominated director, John Singleton, before he passed.
DYNAMITE - From YouTube: Dynamite Entertainment has released a trailer for the comic book, "Vampirella #666," which is due in comic book shops Feb. 7th, 2024.
IMAGE - From YouTube: Eisner Award-winning comics creator, Rob Guillory (Chew, Farmhand), now has a YouTube show.
ELFQUEST - From TeamElfquest: "Elfquest" co-creator, Richard Pini, clarifies information on the planned "Elfquest" television animated drama from Wolfrider Productions and Modern Magic.
IDW - From BleedingCool: Jason Aaron is apparently going to write IDW's new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" comic book, which is set to debut this coming summer.
ARCHIE - From PW: Archie Comics Publisher and CEO, Jon Goldwater, talks about the future of the company in comic books, graphic novels, films, and television.
From BleedingCool: According to the publisher of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater, there will be a comic book in which the publisher's lead character, Archie Andrews, becomes a superhero. To be published in 2024, the series will be serious superhero, not tongue-in-cheek like previous Archie superhero stories.
IMAGE - From BleedingCool: Image Comics co-founder, Jim Valentino, has been hospitalized with pneumonia. Valentino is also a comics creator, ("normalman," Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy," and "Shadowhawk"), and as a publisher is know helping a number of creators at pivotal moments in their career, including Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Oeming, Nick Spencer, Robert Kirkman, and Jimmie Robinson, to name a few.
ELFQUEST - From Deadline: 20th Television Animation (a division of 20th Century Studios) has given a script commitment to "Elfquest," a one-hour animated drama series based on the epic fantasy adventure comic series created by Wendy and Richard Pini, which debuted in 1978. The series will be from Rodney Rothman and Adam Rosenberg’s Modern Magic. Susan Hurwitz Arneson will pen the series adaptation and serve as showrunner and executive producer.
MANGA - From BleedingCool: TOKYOPOP is collecting the comic book series, "Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness - The Beginning" in a paperback graphic novel, debuting March 12th.
DC CINEMA - From Variety: Writer-director David Ayer is so desperate for people to see HIS cut of the 2016 film, Suicide Squad, that he would settle for showing a one "funeral screening" of the film he says was "taken away" from him.
IMAGE COMICS TO TV - From Deadline: Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips' long-running crime comic book series, "Criminal," is headed to Prime Video, which has made a series order for it. Amazon MGM Studios will produce "Criminal" with Brubaker and crime fiction author Jordan Harper acting as co-showrunners.
IDW - From THR: IDW has announced that it has renewed its license with Paramount to continue producing comic books based on the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," which Paramount has owned since 2009.
COMICS TO TV - From Deadline: "American Born Chinese," the streaming series adapated from Gene Luen Lang's graphic novel of the same title, has been cancelled by Disney+ after one season.
AI - From BleedingCool: AI art-generator, MidJourney, has apparently appropriated the work of numberous artists known for their work in comic books. The list includes such luminaries as Brian Bolland, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, Alex Toth, and Wally Wood, to name a few.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Greg Capullo's first project for Marvel Comics in over a decade is a new "Wolverine #1."
From BleedingCool: Greg Capullo teases his first work from Marvel Comics in over a decade.
From ComicBook: Marvel Comics' "Timeless #1" teases the return of the "Guardians of the Galaxy."
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Monday, July 3, 2023
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for July 5, 2023
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Monday, May 15, 2023
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for May 17, 2023
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Monday, April 3, 2023
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for April 5, 2023
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