#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA Blacktop Bill Special

NOCTERRA BLACKTOP BILL SPECIAL
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel
PENCILS: Denys Cowan
INKS: Kent Williams
COLORS: Chris Sotomayor
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniel with Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Denys Cowan
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Blacktop Bill Origins” Part One: “Hall of Mirrors”

Nocterra is a horror and science fiction comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” since the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night over a decade ago.

Nocterra's most terrifying creature is “Blacktop Bill,” whose body is bonded with a matrix of carbon nanotubes.  His origin story is the subject of a new special one-shot comic book, Nocterra Blacktop Bill Special.  It is written by Snyder and Daniel; drawn by Denys Cowan (pencils) and Kent Williams (inks); colored by Chris Sotomayor; and lettered by Andworld Design.

Nocterra Blacktop Bill Special opens somewhere in Florida.  That is where we meet “Blacktop Bill,” the so-called “hitman of hitmen,” But when it comes to killing, for Bill, there is work and then, there are “passion kills.”  Was Nocterra's most terrifying creature a monster before the “Big PM?”

THE LOWDOWN:  In Nocterra #4, on page 13 of the story, Mother Hubbard (at the “Hub Cap”) and Bea Bellweather (in Luxville, Colorado) are having a conversation over a private channel.  Bellweather wants to know the history of Blacktop Bill, and Mother starts telling what he has heard...

Nocterra Blacktop Bill Special is that story, the origin of Blacktop Bill.  I am a fan of Nocterra, one of the best new comic books of 2021, and I am a longtime fan of Denys Cowan, the artist for this special.  Writer Scott Snyder offers what seems like a folk tale side-story to Nocterra, and Cowan's art has a surreal, freestyle quality.

Honestly, I enjoyed it only a little, but I expected more.  Maybe, that's the problem.  Considering that I like Nocterra and that I am a fan of Cowan, I expected something bigger … or perhaps, better...  However, I also see it as the first of something more to come – maybe, something bigger.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel's Nocterra will want Nocterra Blacktop Bill Special.

[This comic book contains a seven-page preview of the comic book series, “Monkey Meat,” by Juni Ba.]

B-

★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #6

NOCTERRA #6
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniel
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniel with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Emanuela Lupacchino with Dave McCaig; Tony S. Daniel and Marcelo Maiolo
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Full Throttle Dark” Part Six

Nocterra is a horror and science fiction comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” since the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night over a decade ago.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

In Nocterra, any living organisms left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours start undergoing a biological transformation.  Soon, the living turn into monstrous versions of themselves, becoming something called a “Shade.”

Valentina “Val” Riggs – call sign “Sundog,” – was in the fifth grade the day the “Big PM” occurred.  Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val drives a big rig hauler, a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler known as the “Sundog Convoy.”  A skilled “ferryman” Val transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts, and now she has her most dangerous haul – Bailey, a girl with a dangerous secret and her brother, Emory “Em” Riggs, who is becoming a Shade.

As Nocterra #6 opens, Val is back in those early days of sanctuary, when she saw the true killing ability of the “Smudges,” the name for a human Shade.  Val has found safety in the mysterious Sanctuary, having brought Bailey to Tiberius McCray, the leader of Sanctuary and the brother of her grandfather, Augustus McCray.

Now, however, the calm has given way to the storm, and Val is surrounded by shocking revelations.  She must prepare for both battle and for survival afterwards for herself, Bailey, and Emory.  Can she see past the darkness into the light?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I have written in some of my earlier reviews of Nocterra, I enjoy writer Scott Snyder's creator-owned series.  I have also told you, dear readers, that I am usually happy to read a comic book drawn by Tony S. Daniels, going back to his early days writing and drawing creator-owned titles at Image, such as The Tenth.  Nocterra has justified my devotion, and this sixth issue ends the series' first story arc with a tremendous payoff for readers who stuck around after the first issue.

Like issue #5, Nocterra #6 gets all thematic, and like the fifth issue, the sixth is the best of the series.  This new issue expands the world of Nocterra in one fell swoop, and the potential for this narrative's long haul excites me with the possibility of new places and so many new dangers.

I don't want to spoil anything, but Snyder, Tony Daniel, Tomeu Morey, and Andworld Design are doing some of their best work as a killer creative team of this amazing title.  Science fiction, dark fantasy, horror, family drama, action:  Nocterra is terribly good, dear readers, equally exiting and mysterious, at all times.  The trade collection for the first arc arrives in October, so take that chance to start at the beginning and then, run on up to catch up with us, the regulars of Nocterra.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel will want to sample Nocterra.

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

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


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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #5

NOCTERRA #5
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniel
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniels with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Cary Nord; Francesco Francavilla; Tony S. Daniel and Marcelo Maiolo
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (July 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Full Throttle Dark” Part Five

Nocterra is a horror and science fiction comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” since the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night over a decade ago.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

In Nocterra, any living organisms left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours start undergoing a biological transformation.  Soon, the living turn into monstrous versions of themselves, becoming something called a “Shade.”

Valentina “Val” Riggs – call sign “Sundog,” – was in the fifth grade the day the “Big PM” occurred.  Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val drives a big rig hauler, a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler known as the “Sundog Convoy.”  A skilled “ferryman” Val transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts, and now she has her most dangerous haul – Bailey, a girl with a dangerous secret and her brother, Emory “Em” Riggs, who is becoming a Shade.

As Nocterra #5 opens, Val remembers those early days of sanctuary, when there was hope to reverse her parents' transformations into “Smudges,” the name for a human Shade.  Now, Val has found safety in the mysterious Sanctuary, having brought Bailey to the her grandfather's brother, Tiberius McCray, the leader of Sanctuary.

Sanctuary is also the place where Val found that mysterious light, “the Lux,” that can reverse Em's transformation into a Smudge.  Now, Val has two choices:  keep herself and Em safe or take Sanctuary for granted and leave.  Val is leaning towards that latter, but is there truth and darkness even in this great light?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I have written in some of my earlier reviews of Nocterra, I enjoy writer Scott Snyder's creator-owned series.  I have also told you, dear readers, that I am usually happy to read a comic book drawn by Tony S. Daniel, going back to his early days writing and drawing creator-owned titles at Image, such as The Tenth.  Nocterra has justified my devotion, and this penultimate issue, #5, of the series' first story arc has made me determined to follow Nocterra's dark highways and byways wherever they might lead.

As a theme in Nocterra #5, Snyder presents the idea that nothing, even sanctuary, is enough for humans.  They will take the bad that is the best for which they can hope and do worse trying to get better instead – even if that will obviously lead to disaster.  Andworld Design's lettering pounds the reads with this issue's ominous mood and dark misgivings about humanity.

Daniels eschews kinetic action for two-fisted conspiratorial drama that carries readers to this issue's shocking cliffhanger.  Tomeu Morey's beautiful colors advances an array of moods and emotions, conveying darkness even in the blinding light of Lux.  So, dear readers, there is time to catch up before this debut story arc ends.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel will want to sample Nocterra.

A

[This comic book includes a preview of Ordinary Gods #1 by Kyle Higgins and Felipe Watanabe.]

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


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#IReadsYou Revew: POST AMERICANA #4

POST AMERICANA #4 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Steve Skroce
ARTIST: Steve Skroce
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Fonografiks
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2021)

Rated M / Mature

Post Americana is a six-issue miniseries written and drawn by Steve Skroce and published by Image Comics.  Post Americana is set in a dystopian future and focuses on two rebels' attempts to save an area called the “Wasteland” from a rogue President of the United States.  Colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Fonografiks complete Post Americana's creative team.

Post Americana  has two settings.  The first is “The Bubble,” an installation inside the Cheyenne Mountains that is the most sophisticated super-bunker in the world.  Inside, Nathaniel Hawksworthe, the new President of the United States, plans to use the bunker's resources to build the “New America” by basically paving over the second setting, the “Wasteland.”  Determined to stop Hawksworthe are Michael “Mike” Lee, a hapless rebel, and Carolyn, a deadly Wasteland girl, who is already hellbent on revenge against the denizens of the Bubble.  But Carolyn and Mike will have to survive the Wasteland in order to save the Wasteland.

As Post Americana #4 opens, Carolyn has a surprise reunion with her mother, Eve, whom she thought was dead.  A prisoner of the forces of The Bubble, Eve is still a fighter, but our heroes are up against the psychotic Hawksworthe and now, his hoary, old hag of a mother.  When things get tough for Mike, Carolyn, Eve, and company, they will find themselves in need of some help.  Enter a hero from the bygone days, Night Terror.  So how is he alive, and do they really want his crazy-ass help?

THE LOWDOWN:  I wrote in my review of Post Americana #1 that I was a fan of writer-artist Steve Skroce, going back over two decades.  In my review of Post-Americana #2, I expressed joy that Skroce gave readers the fun of a cannibal holocaust-shindig, and I like that Post-Americana #3 gave the readers some history and back story.

As ever, Skroce offers something new in each issue of his creator-owned comic books, and Post Americana #4 is no exception.  Yes, the return of Eve will make readers suspicious, and it should, as it is clear that one should always expect both the next surprise and the curve balls from Skroce.  However, the story of the relationship between Carolyn and her mother tugs at the heart.  And the Night Terror angle is the funky cherry on top – to say nothing of his partner, Donny.

As usual, Skroce gets excellent assistance in creating this fine edition of his latest comic book.  That includes superb coloring from Dave Stewart and lettering from Fonografiks that makes the craziness readable.  I can't wait for the fifth issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Steve Skroce's comics and of post-apocalyptic sci-fi will want Post Americana.

A
9 out of 10

[This comic book features a five-page sneak preview of the comic book, Nocterra #1, by Scott Snyder, Tony S. Daniel, Tomeu Morey, and Andworld Design.]

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


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#IReadsYou Review: SPAWN #300

SPAWN #300

IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Todd McFarlane with Scott Snyder (Chapter 2)

PENCILS: Greg Capullo (Chapter 1); Todd McFarlane (2); Jason Shawn Alexander (3) J. Scott Campbell (4); Jerome Opeña (5)

INKS: Todd McFarlane with Jonathan Glapion and J. Scott Campbell

COLORS: FCO Plascencia; Brian Haberlin; Peter Steigerwald; Matt Hollingsworth

LETTERS: Tom Orzechowski

EiC: Jon Goff

COVER: Todd McFarlane

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane; Greg Capullo; Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane; J. Scott Campbell; Jerome Opeña; Jason Shawn Alexander; 

72pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Published by Image Comics since its first issue, Spawn is Image's longest running title and, in terms of number of issues, is one of the longest-running independently-published comic book series in American comics history.  [When I use the term, “independently-published,” I mean that it is not published by a comic book publisher like Marvel or DC Comics that is owned by a media conglomerate.]

Created by writer-artist and Image co-founder, Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).  Spawn is Albert Francis Simmons.  He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and he went on to work for the United States Secret Service and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  Simmons joined the U.S. Security Group as a highly capable assassin, but is murdered during a mission.

Because of his life as an assassin, Simmons is sent to Hell where he made a deal with Malebolgia, one of the major Lords of Hell.  Simmons agreed to become a “Hellspawn” (an officer in Hell's army) and to serve Malebolgia if he is allowed to see his wife, Wanda, one last time.  While Malebolgia does return Simmons to Earth as a creature named “Spawn,” he stripped Simmons of his memories.  Eventually, Spawn decided to break his agreement Hell, and then, began a long campaign to stop the forces of evil.

Spawn has reached its three-hundredth issue, and like he did for Spawn #100 and Spawn #200, McFarlane adds big names to this special issue's creative team.  That includes DC Comics' superstar, Scott Snyder, as co-writer; superstar comic book artist Greg Capullo; rising star, Jerome Opeña; artist Jason Shawn Alexander; and variant cover hustler, J. Scott Campbell.  Colorists FCO Plascencia, Brian Haberlin, Peter Steigerwald, and Matt Hollingsworth join longtime Spawn letterer Tom Orzechowski to complete the creative team.

Spawn #300 opens in Kearney, Nebraska, where the Johnston family is having its annual family reunion during the first weekend of August, as it has for the last twenty-six years.  What is different this year is that there is a killer among them.

Meanwhile, Spawn continues his mission to free humanity from the clutches of both Heaven and Hell.  Having already freed his own ass, Spawn is without his allies from Hell, and Heaven sure hasn't stopped being his enemy.  Now, Spawn must face two of his oldest adversaries, the Clown and Violator.  While Spawn fights to survive to the next stage of his struggle, new allies, however, are emerging...

I was a Spawn reader from the first issue back in 1992.  I even read spin-off miniseries and ongoing series like Angela (Image Comics, 1994-1995), Curse of the Spawn (Image Comics, 1996-1999), and Spawn/WildC.A.T.S. (Image Comics, 1996).  I stuck with Spawn for almost six years.  Why did I quit?  The story never really seemed to be going anywhere, and the story was stuck in a rut.  It was always about Spawn either pining for his life as Al Simmons or struggling against his destiny as a “Hellspawn,” a member of the officer corps that would lead the forces of Hell.

Twenty-seven years later, Spawn has not changed much.  Spawn is still struggling against Hell, but now he sees Hell and Heaven as interchangeable adversaries.  Spawn wants to lead humanity in a war against both sides in order to free itself, as he did.

Todd McFarlane, like many of his Image Comics cohorts, launched Image with comic books that looked like superhero comics.  However, these superheroes were military types – special operatives, secret agents, mercenaries, etc., and the stories featured the kind of action and violence of military science fiction and fantasy.  Quite frankly, the initial Image Comics titles were closer to movies like James Carmeron's Aliens (1986) and select titles from actor-screenwriter Sylvester Stallone's filmography (especially the Rambo film series) than they were like classic comic books.  Sure, some Image titles had a passing resemblance to Marvel and DC Comics titles.  Cyberforce and WildC.A.T.s shared elements with Marvel's X-Men, and Spawn had more than a passing resemblance to Batman, especially to the Batman of Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  Still, Image Comics was introducing new kinds of superheroes to the American comic book artists.

The problem was that Todd McFarlane and his Image colleagues were never really good at the techniques of writing comic books.  They were all about big action-oriented illustrations that depicted violence and characters in action-figure poses.  Comics uses graphics, including illustrations, to tell stories.  Pretty art, overwrought, “detailed” art, and striking visuals does not really tell a story.

However, it is good to see the art team of Greg Capullo (pencils) and McFarlane (inks) back together.  The Capullo-McFarlane team drew most of the issues of Spawn that I read, so their reunion in Spawn #300 gives me a nice feeling of nostalgia.  Nothing else in this issue registers with me, although I must say J. Scott Campbell is perfectly utilized here.  The chapter that Campbell draws, which introduces “She-Spawn,” epitomizes the low-brow, exploitation, speculator-market crap heap from which Campbell emerged on his way to being a “superstar creator” and comic book “legend.”

The coloring and lettering in Spawn #300 are of professional quality but don't make the issue feel like the landmark it should be.  In the end, I did find some things in Spawn #300 that I liked, enough to make me be generous with me grading.

★★★ out of 4 stars

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

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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #4

NOCTERRA #4
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniel
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniel with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jenny Frison; Tony S. Daniel with Tomeu Morey
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (June 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Full Throttle Dark” Part Four

Nocterra is a horror and science fiction comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” since the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night over a decade ago.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

In Nocterra, any living organisms left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours start undergoing a biological transformation.  Soon, the living turn into monstrous versions of themselves, becoming something called a “Shade.”

Valentina “Val” Riggs – call sign “Sundog,” – was in the fifth grade the day the “Big PM” occurred.  Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val drives a big rig hauler, a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler known as the “Sundog Convoy.”  A skilled “ferryman” Val transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts, and now she has her most dangerous haul – a girl with a dangerous secret and her brother, Emory “Em” Riggs, who is becoming a Shade.

Nocterra #4 opens in Val's memories of “Day Three” of the Big PM.  She and Em are trapped in the basement, as their parents are transforming into Shades.  They are knocking at the door of the basement, determined to enter and kill their children.  Val and Em have each come up with a plan, but they always follow Val's plans.  Em wants that to change.  So what now?

Back in the present, exposed to the dark for so long, Em is changing.  Val need a “solar lamp” to slow down the change, and she knows where one is located.  It's in the outpost town of Tipton; make that “brought down” outpost town.  Even if Val gets lucky, there still is the problem of getting Bailey to Sanctuary, which might not be there.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I have written in some of my earlier reviews of Nocterra, I enjoy writer Scott Snyder's creator-owned series.  I have also told you, dear readers, that I am usually happy to read a comic book drawn by Tony S. Daniel, going back to his early days writing and drawing creator-owned titles at Image, such as The Tenth.

Well, I am having a blast reading Nocterra, which reads like an old-fashioned pulp serial with its haunting settings, crazy monsters, bad-ass villains, questionable supporting characters, and one against-all-odds female hero.  Nocterra #4 even has a theme: what to do when there only two choices, and both of them are risky, but one means destruction.

Snyder and Daniel are delivering in Nocterra the kind of work that has made them superstar comic book creators.  If you are fans of either, there is no reason that you should not be reading Nocterra.

If you are a fan of colorist Tomeu Morey, then, you want to see how beautifully he colors the dark world of Nocterra.  And I always enjoy reading the lettering of Andworld Design.  Thus, it is easy for me to give this series the highest recommendation, especially when Nocterra #4 delivers a powerful chapter that is built on a riveting backstory in order to deliver a heart-stopping last act.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel will want to sample Nocterra.

A

9 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #3

NOCTERRA #3
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniel
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniel with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Szymon Kudranski
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (May 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Full Throttle Dark” Part Three

Nocterra is a recently launched comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” since the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night over a decade.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

Nocterra introduces Valentina “Val” Riggs – call sign “Sundog.”  She was in the fifth grade the day the “Big PM” occurred.  Any living organism left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours starts undergoing a biological transformation and changes into a monstrous version of itself, becoming something called a “Shade.”  This is happening to her brother, Emory “Em” Riggs.

Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val drives a big rig hauler, a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler known as the “Sundog Convoy.”  A skilled “ferryman” Val transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts, and now she has her most dangerous haul – a mysterious man and his granddaughter.

Nocterra #3 opens in Val's memories, as she recalls the time when people changed … when her parents became something else.  In the present, the notorious “Blacktop Bill” and his band of highwaymen (of a sort) are hounding the Sundog Convoy.  He wanted Val to surrender her passengers, Dr. Augustus McCray and his granddaughter, Bailey.  Now, he is out for all their blood, and to escape him, someone inside the big rig will have to make a sacrifice.

Meanwhile, black gums, gnarled bones, and haunting yellow eyes are the signs of someone transforming into a human shade.  Someone is showing at least one sign.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I said in my review of Nocterra #2, I enjoy Scott Snyder's creator-owned series more than I enjoy his recent work for DC Comics.  I also wrote that I am usually happy to read a comic book drawn by Tony S. Daniel, going back to his early days writing and drawing creator-owned titles at Image, such as The Tenth.

Well, I am having a blast reading Nocterra.  It reads like an old-fashioned pulp serial with its haunting settings, crazy monsters, bad-ass villains, questionable supporting characters, and one against-all-odds female hero.  In Nocterra #3, Val proves that she can drive the fury road as furiously as Furiosa.

Nocterra #3, like the previous issue, makes me confident that this series is one worth following.  If you are budgeting, dear readers, drop something else to make sure you enter the world of Nocterra every chance you get.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel will want to sample Nocterra.

A

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the original graphic novel, “Kane & Able,” by Shaky Kane and Krent Able.]

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


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #2

NOCTERRA #2
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniel
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniel with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Clayton Henry with Alejandro Sanchez Rodriguez
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (April 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“FULL THROTTLE DARK”

Nocterra is a new comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniel.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night, the “Big PM,” when the sky went dark and the world was plunged into an everlasting night, for well over a decade.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

Nocterra introduces Valentina “Val” Riggs – call sign “Sundog.”  She was in the fifth grade the day the “Big PM” occurred.  Any living organism left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours starts undergoing a biological transformation and changes into a monstrous version of itself, becoming something called a “Shade.”  This is happening to her brother, Emory “Em” Riggs.

Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val drives a big rig hauler, a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler known as the “Sundog Convoy.”  A skilled “ferryman” Val transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts, and now she has her most dangerous haul – a mysterious man and his granddaughter.

Nocterra #2 opens with Val remembering the early days of the “Big PM,” when her parents were lying to themselves.  Val believes in putting a fist through childish fantasies and through the lies people tell themselves.  So what will she do now that Em is infected, and his transformation into a Shade seems to be happening faster than it should?

Meanwhile, she forces the old man, Dr. Augustus McCray, to tell her the truth, or at least more, about the purpose of his journey.  Val also discovers that “Blacktop Bill,” someone thought to be no more than a ghost story, is chasing her.  What does he want?

THE LOWDOWN:  I enjoy Scott Snyder's creator-owned series more than I enjoy his recent work for DC Comics.  I find all that Dark Nights: Metal stuff mostly unreadable, but I enjoyed Wytches (2014-15).  I am usually happy to read a comic book drawn by Tony S. Daniel, going back to his early days writing and drawing creator-owned titles at Image, such as The Tenth.

I found Nocterra #1 to be a strong first issue because it offered so much background information about the story.  Snyder did keep a lot of secrets, but he gave readers a clear understanding of the basics when it came to Nocterra's lead character, the setting, and the plot.  Still, I wondered if the first issue was a fluke, but, now, I know that I had nothing to worry about.  Nocterra #2 is a fine example of pop comics storytelling, with riveting subplots, a poignant flashback, some important character development, and some wham-bam action.

Tony Daniel's art is not as subdued as it was in the first issue.  The storytelling surges, and even the character moments hop with kinetic energy.  Colorist Tomeu Morey is very important to this narrative, and his colors offer subtle shifts in nightmare world.

I won't hesitate this time.  Nocterra #2 makes me confident that this series is one to follow.  If you are budgeting, dear readers, drop something else to make sure you enter the world of Nocterra every chance you get.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel will want to sample Nocterra.

A
9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a four-page preview of “The Good Asian #1” by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi.]

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


https://twitter.com/Ssnyder1835
https://www.instagram.com/ssnyder1835/
https://twitter.com/TonyDanielx2
https://tonydaniel.bigcartel.com/
https://twitter.com/tomeu_morey
https://twitter.com/deronbennett
https://twitter.com/andworlddesign
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for November 2, 2021

DC COMICS:

American Vampire 1976 HC, $29.99
Arkham City The Order Of The World #2 (Of 6) (Cover A Sam Wolfe Connelly), $3.99
Arkham City The Order Of The World #2 (Of 6) (Cover B Yasmine Putri Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman #116 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez) (Fear State), $4.99
Batman #116 (Cover B Jorge Molina Card Stock Variant) (Fear State), $5.99
Batman #116 (Cover C Ann Maulina Retro Gamer Card Stock Variant) (Fear State), AR
Batman Noel HC, $19.99
Batman Reptilian #5 (Of 6) (Cover A Liam Sharp), $4.99
Batman Reptilian #5 (Of 6) (Cover B Cully Hamner), $4.99
Batman Reptilian #5 (Of 6) (Cover C Francesco Francavilla), AR
Batman Superman Authority Special #1 (One Shot) (Cover A Rodolfo Migliari), $5.99
Batman Superman Authority Special #1 (One Shot) (Cover B Jeehyung Lee Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Batman The Adventures Continue Season II #6 (Of 7) (Cover A Jorge Fornes), $3.99
Batman The Adventures Continue Season II #6 (Of 7) (Cover B Yanick Paquette Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman Volume 1 Their Dark Designs TP, $24.99
Crush And Lobo #6 (Of 8)(Cover A Nick Robles), $3.99
Crush And Lobo #6 (Of 8)(Cover B Nicole Goux Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Daphne Byrne TP, $17.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #1 (Of 12) (Cover A Yasmine Putri), $3.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #1 (Of 12) (Cover B Joshua Middleton Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #1 (Of 12) (Cover C Wayne Reynolds Team Card Stock Variant), AR
Dark Knights Of Steel #1 (Of 12) (Cover D Yasmine Putri Character Sheet Card Stock Variant), AR
DC Comics Girls Unite Box Set, $39.99
DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #2 (Of 6) (Cover A John McCrea), $3.99
DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #2 (Of 6) (Cover B Kelley Jones Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Human Target #1 (Of 12) (Cover A Greg Smallwood), $4.99
Human Target #1 (Of 12) (Cover B Trevor Hairsine & Danny Miki), $4.99
Human Target #1 (Of 12) (Cover C Jenny Frison), AR
Icon And Rocket Season One #4 (Of 6) (Cover A Taurin Clarke), $3.99
Icon And Rocket Season One #4 (Of 6) (Cover B Doug Braithwaite Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #4 (Of 7) (Cover A Chip Zdarsky), $4.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #4 (Of 7) (Cover B Ryan Brown Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Joker Volume 1 HC, $24.99
Justice League Infinity #5 (Of 7) (Cover A Meghan Hetrick), $3.99
Mister Miracle The Source Of Freedom #6 (Of 6) (Cover A Yanick Paquette), $3.99
Mister Miracle The Source Of Freedom #6 (Of 6) (Cover B Valentine De Landro Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Static Season One #4 (Of 6) (Cover A Khary Randolph), $3.99
Static Season One #4 (Of 6) (Cover B Nikolas Draper-Ivey Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Superman ’78 #3 (Of 6) (Cover A Amy Reeder), $3.99
Superman ’78 #3 (Of 6) (Cover B Lee Weeks Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Swamp Thing #9 (Of 10) (Cover A Mike Perkins), $3.99
Swamp Thing #9 (Of 10) (Cover B E.M. Gist Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Task Force Z #1 (Cover D Dan Mora Card Stock Variant), AR
Task Force Z #1 (Cover F Kyle Hotz Arkham Knight Monochrome Foil Card Stock Variant), AR
Teen Titans Academy #7 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $3.99
Teen Titans Academy #7 (Cover B Steve Lieber Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Y The Last Man Compendium Volume 1 TP (TV Tie-In Cover), $59.99

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#IReadsYou Review: NOCTERRA #1

NOCTERRA #1
IMAGE COMICS/Best Jacket Press

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Tony S. Daniels
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Tony S. Daniels with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jock; Bosslogic; Greg Capullo
36pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (March 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“FULL THROTTLE DARK”

Nocterra is a new comic book series from writer Scott Snyder and artist Tony S. Daniels.  Published by Image Comics, Nocterra is set on an Earth that has been experiencing an everlasting night for well over a decade.  Colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Andworld Design complete the series' creative team.

Nocterra #1 opens in Denver, Colorado in the fifth grade class of Valentina “Val” Riggs.  This is the day of the “Big PM,” when the sky goes dark and the world is plunged into an everlasting night.  Any living organism left unlit in the dark for more than 10 hours starts undergoing a biological transformation and changes into a monstrous version of itself, becoming something called a “Shade.”

Thirteen years later (“13 PM”), Val is a big rig hauler, driving a heavily-illuminated 18-wheeler, and her call sign in “Sundog.”  She is a skilled “ferryman” who transports people and goods along deadly unlit roads between the few remaining human outposts.  At Luxville, Colorado, a well-lit outpost, Val hopes to find her brother Emory a.k.a. “Em” in better condition.  Waiting for Val, however, are two people with a request for help that she cannot refuse and that will change everything.

THE LOWDOWN:  I enjoy Scott Snyder's creator-owned series more than I enjoy his recent work for DC Comics.  I find all that Dark Nights: Metal stuff mostly unreadable, but I enjoyed Wytches (2014-15).

Nocterra #1 is a strong first issue because it offers so much information.  Snyder keeps a lot of secrets, but he gives readers a clear understanding of the basics when it comes to the lead character, the setting, and the plot.  Of course, the next few issues will thrill the readers with shocking reveals and new mysteries, but Snyder does not leave me with the maddening feeling that instead of reading the first issue of a comic book I have actually read a teaser.  Andworld Design's lettering conveys the shifts in tone of the dialogue, from the introspection of Val to the urgent appeals of her brother, Em.

Readers may be surprised to see how subdued Tony Daniels' art is.  His pencils are subtle and impressionistic, more original Mad Max than Mad Max: Fury Road.  The inking captures the nuance in the characterization and the action.  Daniels plus colorist Tomeu Morey is always a good thing, and here, Morey creates the sense of an eternal night dotted by the neon twilight of the human outposts.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniels will want to sample Nocterra.

8 out of 10

[This comic book includes “A Note from Scott,” an afterword by Scott Snyder.]

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


https://twitter.com/Ssnyder1835
https://www.instagram.com/ssnyder1835/
https://twitter.com/TonyDanielx2
https://tonydaniel.bigcartel.com/
https://twitter.com/tomeu_morey
https://twitter.com/deronbennett
https://twitter.com/andworlddesign
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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I Reads You Juniors: August 2021 - Update #96

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Marvel Comics may be announcing some big news on Tues., Aug. 31st.

DC CINEMA - From ComicBook:   Henry Braham, the cinematographer for DC Films' "The Flash," says the movie is "complex" and is "not really a comic book movie."

DC TV - From Deadline:   Actors Neil Hopkins, who plays the villain "Sportsmaster," and Joy Osmanski, who plays "Tigress," will become series regulars on Season 3 of The CW's "DC's Stargirl."

DC TV - From DCBlog:   The CW announced it will kick off Season 8 of "The Flash" with a five-part epic event that will bring more than a half-dozen heroes and villains from throughout the Arrowverse to Central City for a massive story line called “Armageddon.”

SONY MARVEL U - From WeGotThisCovered:   Sony Pictures may movie its sequel, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," again, this time to 2022.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Actor John Leguizamo has his own comic book coming out from Image Comics.  Entitled "PhenomX," it features a Latinx superhero.

COMICS TO FILM - From Variety:  Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star in a feature film adaptation of "Oblivion Song," the comic book by writer Robert Kirkman (the writer of "The Walking Dead" comic book) and artist Lorenzo De Felici.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Barry Windsor-Smith's classic Wolverine saga, "Weapon X," gets the "gallery edition" treatment.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Skottie Young has announced an ongoing "I Hate Fairyland" comic book series, but while he will write it, Brett Parson will draw it.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   Yen Press announces 13 manga and light novel titles for February 2022.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From WeGotThisCovered:   Barry Keoghan, who plays the villainous Druig in Marvel Studios' upcoming "Eternals," has suffered serious injuries to his face which led him to be hospitalized for a short time.

MARVEL - From Nerdist:   Released 30 years ago this past week: How 1991's "X-Men #1" changed Marvel Comics' mutants forever.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Marvel Comics is giving "The Thing" of the Fantastic Four his own comic book series, which will be written by novelist Walter Mosley ("Devil in a Blue Dress").

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   The site has a first look at "Superman vs. Lobo #1," the "DC Black Label" comic book that ships next week.

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Jurnee Smollett will reprise her role as "Black Canary" from the 2020 film, "Birds of Prey."  Misha Green, creator of "Underground," will write the Black Canary film which is slated for HBO Max.

INTERVIEW - From GQ:   In a "GQ" interview, horror master mangaka, Junji Ito, talks about his new book, "Sensor," and other subjects.

VIZ MEDIA - From ScreenRant:  New "Jojo's Bizarre Adventures" may be coming, as well as a spinoff manga.

VIZ MEDIA - From CBR:   VIZ Media is currently offering the first chapter of its recent release, "Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills," for free on its website.

DC COMICS - From Variety:   DC Comics characters are going to the digital comics platform, Webtoons, via deal between DC Entertainment and Webtoon.

From BleedingCool:  The Korean boy band, BTS, may be part of the DC/Webtoon deal.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  Marvel just dropped the final trailer for its upcoming film, "Eternals."

DYNAMITE - From BleedingCool:   Dynamite Entertainment is launching a comic book starring "Vampirella" character, "Nyx."

MANGA TO ANIME - From ANN:   Takehiko Inoue is writing and directing a new anime film based on his classic basketball manga, "Slam Dunk."  The film be released Fall 2022.

MANGA - BookRiot:   The site offers a look at the manga market in North America.

MANGA - From CBR:  Grammy-winning recording artist Ed Sheeran recently teamed up with Japanese illustrator and manga artist Rui Ikeda to release an anime adaptation of the music video for his latest single, "Bad Habits."

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:   Brian Michael Bendis is moving his creator-owned titles under the "Jinxworld" banner to Dark Horse Comics.  His new miniseries, with artist Stephen Byrne, "Joy Operations," starts in November.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Novelist Christopher Ruocchio will write a Thor story for "Avengers #50" that Steve McNiven will draw.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Joe Quesada, John Romita, Jr., and Scott Hanna are producing a new 9/11 memorial comic that will appear in select Marvel Comics titles published on Sept. 8th, 2021. 

DC TV - From DCBlog:   In an interview, "Stargirl" actress, Brec Bassinger, talks about Season Two and about the evil of "Eclipso."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Dick Grayson is finally on top in the three-issue miniseries, "Robin & Batman" by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Bryan Hitch is working on a "Superman" project for 2022.

DC CINEMA - From GiantFreakingRobot:   Warner Bros. may be looking to drop actress Margot Kidder as "Harley Quinn."

MANGA TO FILM - From THR:   Shinsuke Sato will direct Legendary Entertainment's live-action version of the smash hit manga, "My Hero Academia."  The English-language project currently does not have a writer attached to it.

IMAGE COMICS TO FILM - From THR: Brian Tucker, who penned the 2013 Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg crime thriller, "Broken City," has been hired to write the script for Todd McFarlane and Jason Blum's long-developing "Spawn" reboot film.

DC TV - From Deadline:   Vincent Kartheiser, who plays the villain Scarecrow on Season 3 of HBO Max's "Titans, has triggered at least two complaints and two internal investigations by Warner Bros Television. The allegations, which are believed to have included disruptive, juvenile behavior and inappropriate comments, were investigated by WBTV’s Labor Relations department.

DC COMICS - From EW:  "Dark Knights of Steel" is set in a new DC Comics medieval fantasy world.  The 12-issue miniseries will debut soon.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Actor Danny DeVito has written a "Penguin" story that will appear in the comic book, "Gotham City Villains Anniversary #1."  DeVito played the Penguin in director Tim Burton's 1992 film, "Batman Returns."

SONY MARVEL U - From Variety:   Sony has changed the release date for "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" again.  Sony has moved the film's release date from Sept. 24th to October 15th.

From Esquire:  In an interview with "Esquire," "Venom" star Tom Hardy says that Sony is very happy with "Venom: Let There Be Carnage.'

IMAGE COMICS - From THR:   Todd McFarlane's "King Spawn" has sold 497,000 copies, which is Image's biggest monthly title release in 25 years. "King Spawn #1" actually goes on sale August 25, 2021.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Apparently, WalMart has obtained and is selling Marvel retailer variant covers in its three-pack offerings.  This includes variants that are exclusive to particular retailers.

SUBSTACK - From BleedingCool:  Skottie Young is moving his comic book, "I Hate Fairyland," from Image Comics to whatever Substack Comics is.

CONVENTIONS - From BleedingCool:   In 2022, six of Wizard World's top conventions will be rebranded as "Fan Expo" events.  Is this a prelude to Fan Expo taking over Wizard World.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Captain America and Iron Man have been teaming up forever.  But they will team-up in a miniseries for the first time in November with "Captain America/Iron Man," from the creative team of Derek Landy and Angel Unzueta.

DC/LGBTQ - From YahooEntertainment:   So Tim Drake, the third character to carry the mantle of Batman's sidekick, Robin, is officially bisexual.

DC COMICS - From CBR:   James Tynion IV announced on his Substack newsletter that he is both starting a new creator-owned series on Substack and that he will be leaving DC to focus on his creator-owned work.

MARVEL/DC COMICS - From TheGuardian:   Marvel and DC Comics faces backlash over the paltry royalty payments issued to comic book creators for the use of characters and story lines they created in films and television series.

COMIXOLOGY - From BleedingCool:   Scott Snyder explains why he has eight comic books coming from comiXology.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Vault Comics announces the rapid expansion of its "Barbaric" franchise.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics admits that Jack Kirby co-wrote "The Fantastic Four #1" with Stan Lee."

DC CINEMA - From IReadsYou:  Here is my review of "The Suicide Squad."

THE SUICIDE SQUAD - From Deadline: "The Suicide Squad" has an opening day box office of 12.1 million dollars.

From CBR:  "The Suicide Squad" director James Gunn explains why "The Peacemaker" is the character getting his own series.

From DCBlog:  In an interview, writer-director James Gunn talks about "The Suicide Squad's" colorful lineup of characters.

From YahooEntertainment:   Margot Robbie, DC Films' Harley Quinn, had a profane warning for writer-director James Gunn concerning Harley's fate in the new film, "The Suicide Squad."

From DCBlog:   Who the f*** is the Peacemaker - all about the character.

From Insider:  8 of the wackiest DC characters James Gunn considered for "The Suicide Squad."

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INTERVIEW - From GamesRadar:   In an interview, "Daredevil" artist Mike Hawthorne talks about his decision to leave Marvel Comics.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Marvel's current "Runaways" comic book series comes to an end with issue #38.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Behemoth Comics is starting a record label and music publishing company, Behemoth Records.

DC CINEMA - From Time:  Here is a list of DC Comics-based films and TV shows coming after "The Suicide Squad."

BLACK COMICS - From Nerdist:   Rodney Barnes and his Zombie Love Studios have landed the rights to produce a graphic novel based on the seminal African-American and American horror film, "Blacula" (1972).

MANGA - From Siliconera:   Udon Entertainment is now the publisher of the manga, "Persona 5: Mementos Mission," with the first volume due December 7, 2021.

MANGA - From TheMainichi:   The legendary Japanese manga, "Goldgo 13" now has the largest numbers of volumes for a manga ever wit the release of its 201st volume.

MARVEL/VIZ - From ScreenRant:   The tentative release date for the English-language release of the "Deadpool: Samurai" manga is February 2022.

MANGA - From CBR:   Paru Itagaki, the creator of "Beastars" and "Bota Bota," announces the upcoming release of her new manga "Sanda" in Weekly Shonen Champion.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From ScreenRant:   There is a video trailer for the hardcover graphic novel release of Simon Hanselmann's "Crisis Zone."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Hellblazer Vols. 25 and 26 will collect the final issues of the original 300-issue run of "Hellblazer."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Jesus Saiz and Paul Azaceta may be the art team of Jason Aaron's "Punisher No More."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Celebrated alt-comics creator, Ho Che Anderson ("King: A Comics Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr."), is writing his first Marvel Comics title, "Luke Cage: City of Fire."  The three-issue miniseries will be drawn by Taurin Clarke and is due in October.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Take a look at three interior pages from the upcoming "King Spawn #1."

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS - From SlashFilm:   Fantagraphics Books will collect all of Underground Cartoonist Gilbert Shelton's "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers" comics in a four-volume set.  The first volume arrives January 2022.  There is also an eight-episode animated series based on the brothers from Lionsgate TV that is due to arrive by the end of 2021.

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS - From TheBeat:  There is a trailer for Fantagraphics new, hardcover edition of R. Kikuo Johnson's 2006 original graphic novel, "Night Fisher."

COMICS TO FILM - From Deadline:  Paramount Pictures have chosen brothers Colin and Casey Jost had write a new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movies.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   "Marvel Legends" is a new line of comic book miniseries from Marvel Comics, intended to be collected in paperback.  The target audience is middle-grade graphic novel readers in bookstores, book fairs, and libraries.  Each miniseries will retell or reboot the origin of a well known Marvel character.  And it will begin in October with "Black Panther Legends," a four-issue series by novelist Tochi Onyebuchi and artist Setor Fiadzigbey that will retell the origin of the Black Panther.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   DC Comics and Walmart unite for the "My First Comic" program. Each comic book is a 48-page two-in-one flipbook featuring comics stories and activity pages.  They arrive at participating Walmart stores and Walmart.com the week of August 3rd, 2021.

COMICS TO FILM - From YahooEntertainment:  "Cowboys & Aliens" creator, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, explains why director Jon Favreau's expensive 2011 film adaptation of the comic book never got a sequel.

EISNER AWARDS - From BleedingCool:   If you care, here is a list of winners at last night's 2021 / 33rd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The site has made a list of agents who sell graphic novels to the book publishers.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From IReadsYou:  My review of the new "Black Widow" film.  

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The new "DC Universe" explained ... and it's a doozy.

comiXology - From THR:   Scott Snyder and his Best Jackett Press have signed a deal to co-create eight titles for ComiXology Originals. The titles will first debut via the Amazon-owned digital comics service and Kindle, and then appear in print via Dark Horse Books.

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

AUGUST 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day for August 14, 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Behemoth for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Second Sight Publishing for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for September 2021 

From BleedingCool:  AWA for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal Magazines for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for September 2021

OCTOBER 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Aardvark Vanaheim for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for October 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Black Masks for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2021

From CBR:  DC Comics for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for October 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal Magazine for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2021

From CBR:  Marvel Comics for October 2021

From BleedingCool: Oni Press for October 2021

From 2000AD:  Rebellion for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for October 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for October 2021

From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for October 2021

NOVEMBER 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Silver Sprocket for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2021

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