#IReadsYou Review: A TOWN CALLED TERROR #3

A TOWN CALLED TERROR #3
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Szymon Kudranski
COLORS: Szymon Kudranski
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
COVER: Szymon Kudranski
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(June 2022)

Rated “M/Mature”

A Town Called Terror” created by Steve Niles and Szymon Kudranski

Part 3: “Transformation”

A Town Called Terror is a new comic book series from writer Steve Niles and artist-colorist Szymon Kudranski.  Published by Image Comics, the series blends the genres of crime and horror fiction and is set largely in a town of monsters and freaks.  Letterer Scott O. Brown completes the creative team.

In a town called “Terror” (population 1300), a great man has just come back from the dead – apparently not for the first time.  His son, Henry West, has also just been kidnapped to Terror, his hometown, by request of his father.  Meanwhile, his wife, Julie, knows very little of the circumstances surrounding her husband's disappearance, only that her husband has been kidnapped.

A Town Called Terror #3 (“Transformation”) opens in a town called Terror.  Henry has just been reunited with his younger brother, Scott, one of a set of twins.  Henry has also pissed off the “Franks,” so when they retaliate, we finally get to see what makes Henry a monster.  Meanwhile, Julie is getting help from a sympathetic detective who has found something regarding the disappearance of Henry.

THE LOWDOWN:  Steve Niles may be the most famous writer of modern American horror comic books, with 30 Days of Night from IDW Publishing being his best known work.  Artist Szymon Kudranski has made his rep on several titles, especially on Image Comics titles, Spawn and and Nita Hawes NIGHTMARE Blog.

A Town Called Terror is something they have created together, and if things work out correctly, it could be special.  Niles has been slowly playing out the secrets of the town of Terror and its denizens.  The reveal of Henry's powers is a nice surprise and will likely convince readers that Henry is capable of the great task his father plans to place before him.  Hopefully, more details are imminent.

Kudranski's art and storytelling remains a sexy mix of Film-Noir and of shadowy Gothic elements.  It flows like a dark fluid, seeping into my imagination, and I imagine it could do the same to yours, also, dear readers.  This is an alluring and beautifully drawn horror and dark fantasy comic book.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Steve Niles, Szymon Kudranski, and horror comic books will to try A Town Called Terror.

A-

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


https://twitter.com/SzymonKudranski
https://www.steveniles.com/
https://twitter.com/SteveNiles
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imagecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Comics-Inc/178643148813259
https://www.twitch.tv/imagecomics
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmaKLo0FXWIPx-3n6qs3vQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

#IReadsYou Review: A TOWN CALLED TERROR #2

A TOWN CALLED TERROR #2
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Szymon Kudranski
COLORS: Szymon Kudranski
LETTERS: Scott O. Brown with Marshall Dillon
COVER: Szymon Kudranski
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(May 2022)

Rated “M/Mature”

A Town Called Terror” created by Steve Niles and Szymon Kudranski

Part 2: “The Return”

A Town Called Terror is a new comic book series from writer Steve Niles and artist-colorist Szymon Kudranski.  The series blends the genres of crime and horror fiction and is set largely in a town of monsters and freaks.  Letterer Scott O. Brown completes the creative team.

In a town called “Terror” (population 1300), a great man has just come back from the dead – apparently not for the first time.  Henry West has also just been kidnapped to Terror, his hometown.  Meanwhile, his wife, Julie, knows very little of the circumstances surrounding her husband's disappearance, only that her husband has been kidnapped.

A Town Called Terror #2 (“The Return”) opens in a town called Terror.  No, it's not a nightmare, Henry.  You are back into Terror and are locked in.  In a tense meeting with his father, Henry learns that dear old dad has forced his return to Terror because his wife (and Henry's mother) has mysteriously disappeared, and Henry apparently has the skills to find her.

But being home has not only reacquainted Henry with painful memories, but also with old rivalries.

THE LOWDOWN:  Steve Niles may be the most famous writer of modern American horror comic books.  Artist Szymon Kudranski has been plying his trade on the dark side of comics with stints on Marvel Comics' The Punisher and on Spawn and recently on Nita Hawes NIGHTMARE Blog (also from Image Comics).  They have come together for a comic book that could be quite special.

Niles is playing out the story in monthly serial form; for instance, we really don't know what happened to his mother other than the vague “beyond the grave” offering.  While Niles werewolf-cock-teases us, Kudranski is slaying readers with some of the most beautifully haunting and hauntingly beautiful horror comic book art being published today.  [Honestly, it seems that the best artists of horror comic books are currently mostly at Image Comics.]

Here, Kudranski's art and storytelling is truly Film-Noir, not just light noir-ish pretend.  It is as if someone, Kudranski, in this case, took the sublime shadowy worlds of Bernie Wrightson and decided to evolve what the late artist did rather than just be “inspired” by it or “homage” it to death.

The world that Kudranski creates in A Town Called Terror is ... terrifying, but also too beautiful to resist.  If there is ever a film or TV adaptation of this comic book, no cinematographer or director of photography will be able to recreate the visual, graphical, and illustrative beauty that is the art of A Town Called Terror.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Steve Niles, Szymon Kudranski, and horror comic books will to try A Town Called Terror.

A

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


https://www.steveniles.com/
https://twitter.com/SteveNiles
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imagecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Comics-Inc/178643148813259
https://www.twitch.tv/imagecomics
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmaKLo0FXWIPx-3n6qs3vQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50th Anniversary

KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOFTCOVER

MOONSTONE BOOKS

STORY: David Avallone; Jonathan Maberry; Peter David; R.C. Matheson; Kim Newman; Tim Waggoner; Steve Niles; Rodney Barnes; Gabriel Hardman; James Aquilone; Nancy A. Collins; James Chambers

ART: Julius Ohta; Marco Finnegan; J.K. Woodward; Paul McCaffrey; Clara Meath; Szymon Kudranski; Jonathan Marks Barravecchia; Gabriel Hardman; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;

COLORS: Zac Atkinson; Szymon Kudranski; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;

LETTERS: Tom Napolitano; Tom Napolitano with DC Hopkins

EDITOR: James Aquilone

COVER: Colton Worley

MISC. ART: Jerry Ordway with Zac Atkinson; J.K. Woodward; Dan Brereton

ISBN: 978-1-946346-14-8; paperback (October 21, 2022)

188pp, Color, $24.99 U.S.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is a 188-page comic book anthology that celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the former ABC television series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.”  This graphic novel is edited by James Aquilone and published by Moonstone Books.

“Kolchak: The Night Stalker” was a television series that blended horror, fantasy, and science fiction.  It aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season for a total of 20 episodes.  The series was preceded by two ABC television movies, The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973).

The TV series and two movies followed wire service reporter named Carl Kolchak, who was played by the late actor Darren McGavin (1922-2006).  Kolchak worked for the Chicago branch of the Independent News Service (INS), a small news wire service.  He often investigated mysterious crimes and events and they were usually caused by forces, creatures, monsters, entities, etc. that were of supernatural, science fiction, and/or fantastic origins.  Carl Kolchak was created by the late writer, Jeff Rice (1944-2015).

2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the debut of “The Night Stalker” TV movie (specifically January 18, 1972).  To commemorate that anniversary, editor and publisher, James Aquilone, launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for an anthology graphic novel telling all-new comics stories that would span Carl Kolchak's entire career as a reporter of the supernatural and as TV’s greatest monster-hunting reporter.

The result was a hugely successful campaign and the eventual release of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  This special 188-page graphic novel is comprised of 12 all-new stories that chronicle the adventures of the intrepid Carl Kolchak from the 1930s to the early 2000s.

The stories are written by a stellar line-up of novelists, television writers, and comic book scribes.  The list includes David Avallone, Rodney Barnes, James Chambers, Nancy A. Collins, Peter David, Jonathan Maberry, and Steve Niles, to name a few.  The artists include Jonathan Marks Barravecchia, Szymon Kudranski, Paul McCaffrey, Julius Ohta, J.K. Woodard, and Colton Worley, to name a few.

THE LOWDOWN:  There is more than one edition of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel, including one that will contain a series of prose stories featuring Carl Kolchak.  My review will be of the 188-page “Cover A” paperback edition that contains the 12 stories and a short illustration gallery of variant cover art.

First, allow me to gush, dear readers.  If Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is not the best horror comics anthology of the 21st century that I have read, it is definitely in the top three.  I can't think of a better one that I've encountered over the last twenty-plus years.

It is bracketed by a fine opening story and a pitch-perfect closing story.  The opening tale, writer David Avallone and artist Julius Ohta's “The Funny Place,” introduces a young Carl Kolchak who is coming into his own.  Avallone does not make the mistake of doing what the film, Solo: A Star Wars Story,” did and show us the origins of every single habit for which television viewers and fans would come to know Kolchak.  I'd like to see Avallone and Ohta produce a YA graphic novel expansion of their take on young Carl Kolchak.  I know it likely won't happen, but a fanboy can dream...

The closing story, writer James Chambers and artist Paul McCaffrey's “The Last Byline,” is masterstroke as a concluding story in an anthology.  It recalls Kolchak's debut, The Night Stalker; is a summation of his work and motivation; and is a fitting end … with his boots on.

In between, the writers and artists introduce new spins on the adventures of Carl Kolchak, such as Nancy A. Collins' and Warwick Caldwell-Johnson's “The Sin Feeder” and Jonathan Maberry and Marco Finnegan's “The White Lady.”  Writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jonathan Marks Barravecchia summon the spirit of original “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” episode, “The Zombie,” with the superb “Voodoo Child.”  It is a timely rumination on the pervasive poverty of black and brown inner city neighborhoods and also police violence, with a seeding of George A. Romero's “Dead” films.

I actually cannot pick a personal favorite story from Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel because they are all so damn good.  “The Nest” by Tim Waggoner and Clara Meath may be the sweetest.  I unequivocally endorse Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  I think the version that I am reviewing costs $32 to purchase from James Aquilone's Monstrous Books website.  I am sure, dear readers, that some of you have spent much more on reading material that is not nearly as good as this book.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Carl Kolchak and of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” will very much want Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.

[This volume includes introductions by R.C. Matheson and James Rice.]

A+

10 out of 10

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

https://twitter.com/jamesaquilone

https://monstrousbooks.com/

https://monstrousbooks.com/shop

https://moonstonebooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MoonstoneBooks/

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

#IReadsYou Review: A TOWN CALLED TERROR #1

A TOWN CALLED TERROR #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Szymon Kudranski
COLORS: Szymon Kudranski
LETTERS: Scott O. Brown with Marshall Dillon
COVER: Szymon Kudranski
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Tony S. Daniel
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(April 2022)

Rated “M/Mature”

A Town Called Terror” created by Steve Niles and Szymon Kudranski

Part 1: “A Message from Home”

A Town Called Terror is a new comic book series from writer Steve Niles and artist-colorist Szymon Kudranski.  The series blends the genres of crime and horror fiction.  Letterer Scott O. Brown completes the creative team.

A Town Called Terror #1 (“A Message from Home”) welcomes you to a town called “Terror,” population 1300.  A great man has just come back from the dead – apparently not for the first time.  Meanwhile, Henry West is enjoying some post-coital cuddling with his wife, Julie, when men break into the house, drug Julie, and kidnap Henry.

In the days that follow, Julie is unable to get help for her missing husband.  All evidence, or lack thereof, indicates a phantom crime.  But Henry knows where he is...

THE LOWDOWN:  Steve Niles may be the most famous modern writer of horror comic books in North America.  Artist Szymon Kudranski has been plying his trade on the dark side of comics with stints on Marvel Comics' The Punisher and on Spawn and Nita Hawes NIGHTMARE Blog from Image Comics.

Niles presents an interesting scenario, a town for monsters and freaks, which is not necessarily a new idea.  At least two of Dynamite Entertainment's recent Vampirella comic books series deal with something similar.  Apparently, Niles is bringing organized crime and crime fiction to the world of horror, and that is where it gets interesting.

The major treat here is Kudranski's beautiful art, which is part film-noir and part EC Comics.  His still images are the graphics of luscious blacks and creepy, silky shadows.  Flickering lights on wan faces and the criss-cross, interplay of light and dark and black and white instantly transports the reader to a town called Terror, and to corrupt law enforcement, and even to a happy marriage.

Yes, Kudranski takes you there, dear readers, a scary world where you will want to be for awhile.  Now, we just have to wait for the story to kick in, and, if it does, I think I should be in Terror … for at least awhile.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Steve Niles, Szymon Kudranski, and horror comic books will to try A Town Called Terror.

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


https://www.steveniles.com/
https://twitter.com/SteveNiles
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: KICK-ASS VS. HIT-GIRL #1

KICK-ASS VS. HIT-GIRL #1
IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Marcelo Frusin
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: John Workman
DESIGN: Melina Mikulic
EDITOR: Rachael Fulton
COVER: John Romita, Jr. with Peter Steigerwald
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Matteo Scalera; Andre Lima Araujo with Chris O'Halloran
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(November 2020)

Rated “M/Mature”

Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl created by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.

Kick-Ass is a comic book series created by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita, Jr.  The initial Kick-Ass comic books were published by Marvel Comics' “Icon” imprint, before the series moved to Image Comics.  Kick-Ass is now known as Kick-Ass: The Dave Lizewski Years, and is comprised of four book collections (or graphic novels)

Kick-Ass #1 (cover dated: April 2008) introduced Dave Lizewski, a teenager who becomes a real life superhero.  Dave takes the name “Kick-Ass,” and his superhero activities are publicized on the Internet and inspire other people to become like him.  Dave eventually gets caught up with the ruthless father-daughter vigilante duo, “Big Daddy”/Damon McCready and “Hit-Girl”/Mindy McCready (both introduced in Kick-Ass #3 – cover dated July 2008).  The McCreadys are on a mission to take down the Genovese crime family.

Kick-Ass 2018 (now known as Kick-Ass: The New Girl) introduced a new Kick-Ass.  She was Patience Lee, an Afghanistan war veteran who returned home to Albuquerque, New Mexico and discovered that her husband had left her and also had run up large debts.  Taking on the Kick-Ass identity, Patience started off stealing cash from neighborhood criminals before eventually killing off the local boss and his gang and taking over his operations as the new crime boss, using the name, “Kick-Ass.”

Hit-Girl now travels the world doing her own thing in her own comic books.  But it is time for Kick-Ass/Patience Lee and Hit-Girl to finally meet, and they do so in the new comic book miniseries, Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl.  It is written by Steve Niles; drawn by Marcelo Frusin; colored by Sunny Gho; and lettered John Workman, with original Kick-Ass artist, John Romita, Jr. providing cover art.

Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl #1 opens in the aftermath of Patience killing her brother-in-law, her sister's husband, Maurice.  At Maurice's funeral, Patience does a lot of thinking, and she decides to destroy the criminal empire that she has built.  But not everyone agrees with that move.  Elsewhere, a young killer makes her noisy arrival in Albuquerque, NM.

THE LOWDOWN:  I am a fan of the Kick-Ass comic book franchise, especially of the comic books produced by both Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.  I think that the original Kick-Ass series is a revolutionary moment in superhero comic books, probably the biggest shift since the dawn of Marvel Comics in 1961 with the publication of The Fantastic Four #1.  For one thing, Kick-Ass liberated superhero comic books of nostalgia and sentimentality.  This was the first step in creating a comic book that convincingly depicts what it might be like if superheroes existed in our real world.

The post Millar-Romita, Jr. Kick-Ass comic books are entertaining, but they read more like Vertigo crime and hard-boiled comic books than like Kick-Ass superhero comic books.  In this first issue, Marcelo Frusin's graphical storytelling is stylish and fast-moving, filled with edgy drama and hard-hitting violent action.  Writer Steve Niles builds the first issue on anticipation.  He offers a simmer that the readers know will result in explosive, but pivotal violence; readers just have to wait.

The colors by Sunny Gho throb and sometimes take on a neon quality.  The coloring gives this story's edginess a moody filter.  Meanwhile, John Workman does what the best letterers have been doing for decades – create the illusion of an audio track so that a comic book, in this case, Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl #1, is a thing of sound and graphics.

So, what is the verdict on Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl #1?  Well, I'd like to be cynical, but by the time I reached the last page, I really wanted more.  And I shall come back for more

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Kick-Ass comic books will want to try Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl #1.

7.5 out of 10

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


https://www.steveniles.com/
https://twitter.com/SteveNiles
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 5, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR190309    BEASTS OF BURDEN PRESENCE OF OTHERS #2 (OF 2)    $3.99
APR190226    BLACK HAMMER 45 FROM WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER #4 CVR A KINDT    $3.99
APR190227    BLACK HAMMER 45 FROM WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER #4 CVR B GREENE    $3.99
FEB190380    CITY OF OTHERS HC TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (MR)    $29.99
FEB190403    DANGANRONPA 2 TP VOL 03 ULTIMATE LUCK HOPE DESPAIR    $12.99
APR190215    DISNEY FROZEN HERO WITHIN #1 KAWAII CREATIVE STUDIO    $3.99
JAN190481    DISNEY PIXAR TOY STORY 4 TP    $10.99
FEB190376    DRAGON AGE HC MASKED EMPIRE DELUXE EDITION    $29.99
FEB190315    MIND MGMT OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 HOME MAKER AND MAGICIAN    $24.99
MAR190319    MINECRAFT TP VOL 01    $9.99
APR190256    SWORD DAUGHTER #7 CVR A OLIVER    $4.99
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Review: KICK-ASS #7 (The New Girl)

KICK-ASS No. 7 (2018)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Marcelo Frusin
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: John Workman
EDITOR: Rachel Fulton
COVER: Marcelo Frusin.
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jock; Rafael Grampa
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2018)

Rated M/Mature

Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl created by Mark Miller and John Romita, Jr.

This year, writer Mark Millar and creator John Romita, Jr. revived their wildly popular superhero comic book series, Kick-Ass.  The duo transitioned from the story of Dave Lizewski, and Kick-Ass (2018) began the story of the “New Girl” who became Kick-Ass, Staff Sergeant Patience Lee, a combat veteran in the Afghanistan part of the “(Global) War on Terror.”

Both Millar and Romita moved on to other projects after the sixth issue of Kick-Ass.  The seventh issue introduces a new creative team.  It is comprised of writer Steve Niles; artist Marcelo Frusin; colorist Sunny Gho; and letterer John Workman.  At this point in the series, the new girl is still kicking ass, but she is making new and even more dangerous enemies.

Kick-Ass #7 finds Sgt. Patience Lee Kick-Ass moving along quite nicely in her new life.  As Kick-Ass, she has taken over and consolidated several criminal gangs.  She takes down drug operations and divides the spoils among the criminals who have joined her new gang.  Lee does this while keeping only $800 from her Kick-Ass operations for herself, and she still works as a waitress at a diner.  The latest self-styled crime lord that she has targeted is Hector Santos, who mostly seems to stay in hiding.  Santos is also a little more savvy than most of the criminals that Kick-Ass has been kicking around, and our anti-hero may be walking into a trap.

I loved and still love the original Kick-Ass comic books, which were published by Marvel Comics' Icon imprint.  Kick-Ass is my favorite work of artist John Romita, Jr., and it is my favorite work of Mark Millar, although his new comic book, The Magic Order, could overtake it.  I was not excited to hear that a new creative team would take over the series with the seventh issue of Kick-Ass (2018).

However, Kick-Ass #7 turns out to be a thoroughly enjoyable comic book.  Writer Steve Niles and artist Marcelo Frusin do not miss a beat in keeping the series consistent with the momentum Millar and Romita, Jr. built over the previous six issues.  The transition from originals to the new creative team for the “New Girl's” story is for all intents and purposes seamless.

In his story and script, Niles slowly builds the tension before exploding the story with a surprising change of plot.  No one can duplicate John Romita Jr.'s unique visual and graphical style, but Frusin makes Kick-Ass his own graphical storytelling feat.  This is still Kick-Ass (2018), but now, this gritty crime story is a gritty crime comic book.  Instead of Romita's explosive pop comics illustrations, Frusin gives us art that recalls recent popular crime comic books like 100 Bullets and Criminal.

Colorist Sunny Gho, who always seems to be offering something new with his comic book coloring, heightens Frusin's sense of tense drama and explosive action with subdued colors.  As always, John Workman proves that he is a master letterer with indispensable fonts and word balloons that are as beautiful as the art and are perfectly placed.

So I need not worry.  Steve Niles and Marcelo Frusin will make sure that Kick-Ass keeps kicking readers' imagination.  I am ready for the next issue.

8.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: 30 DAYS OF NIGHT #1

30 DAYS OF NIGHT No. 1 (2017)
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Piotr Kowalski
COLORS: Brad Simpson
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
COVER: Ben Templesmith
VARIANT COVERS:  Piotr Kowalski with Aurore Folny; Ashley Wood; Ben Templesmith
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)
DIAMOND CODE: OCT170412 – Wednesday, December 20, 2017

30 Days of Night was a three-issue horror comic book miniseries written by Steve Niles and drawn by Ben Templesmith.  IDW Publishing originally released the miniseries in 2002 (August to October).  30 Days of Night takes place in Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States.

It is so far north that during the winter, the sun does not rise for 30 days.  This is the perfect scenario for a group of vampires that take advantage of the prolonged darkness to invade Barrow and openly kill the townspeople so that they can feed at will.  A small band of humans, led by a young sheriff, struggle to survive this monstrous onslaught.

The original 30 Days of Night was followed by numerous sequel and spin off comic book titles.  It also yielded a line of novels and was adapted into a 2007 theatrical film and a direct-to-DVD sequel.  Now, IDW is rebooting the 30 Days of Night comic book franchise in a new comic book series, entitled 30 Days of Night, of course.  It is written by Steve Niles; drawn by Piotr Kowalski; colored by Brad Simpson; and lettered by Tom B. Long.

30 Days of Night #1 opens in Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost community in North America.  Here, the sun does not set between May 10th and August 2nd.  It also does not rise between November 18th and January 24th each winter.  And the temperatures average below zero.  Many of the townspeople are leaving before this year's time of darkness, but those who stay behind in this isolated Alaskan township will have to survive a new evil that emerges to terrorize the town.

Nothing happens.  30 Days of Night is practically 20 pages of nothing.  What little suspense, mystery, or intrigue, this first issue does not have enough of anything scary to qualify as a horror comic.  It is not that Steve Niles' writing is bad; this 30 Days of Night #1 is simply first-issue introduction by decompression gone really bad.

Nor is Piotr Kowalski's art poor.  It is simply as generic as Niles' writing.

5 out 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 syndication rights and fees.

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 10, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL180936    BEAUTY OF HORROR SC GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS    $12.99
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AUG180801    IMPOSSIBLE INC #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB180481    JEKYLL ISLAND CHRONICLES GN BOOK 02    $19.99
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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for March 7, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

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Review: THE MONSTROUS COLLECTION of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson

THE MONSTROUS COLLECTION OF STEVE NILES AND BERNIE WRIGHTSON
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Niles
ART: Bernie Wrightson
LETTERS: Robbie Robbins, Neil Uyetake, and Shawn Lee
ISNB: 978-1-68405-030-7; paperback – 7x11 (December 2017)
200pp, B&W, $24.99 U.S., $33.99 CAN (January 2, 2018)

The Monstrous Collection of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson is a paperback collection of comics produced by writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and artist Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing; Captain Sternn).  Ostensibly a reprint collection of three comic book miniseries, The Monstrous Collection is a showcase of Wrightson's striking black and white comics artwork.  The last 28 pages of The Monstrous Collection is a gallery of Wrightson's art, including cover art for the comic books reprinted here.

The Monstrous Collection of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson collects three miniseries that Niles and Wrightson created over a three-year period beginning in 2008.  Each miniseries was three-issues long and set in a dark universe created by Niles, a universe that recalls supernatural detective, weird fiction, and EC Comics (apparently an influence on Wrightson).

The first miniseries is Dead, She Said (3 issues; May to September 2008).  It stars private investigator Joe Coogan, who wakes up in his apartment one morning feeling real funky and smelling even funkier.  Now, he has to find out who killed him and why, and his killer may be more dangerous than anyone including Coogan realizes.

The second miniseries is The Ghoul (3 issues; November 2009, January to March 2010).  Detective Lieutenant Lloyd Klimpt of the Los Angeles Police Department believes he is on to something strange and perhaps criminal in a case involving a family of famous and acclaimed actresses.  Being rational, he cannot make the great mental leap from the normal to the paranormal.  The FBSI (Federal Bureau of Supernatural Investigations) is sending someone who will hopefully help Klimpt make the leap for the dark side to the darker side.  He is The Ghoul, and Klimpt has him for one night only.

The final miniseries is Doc Macabre (3 issues; December 2010, January to February 2011).  He is a boy genius.  His Dexter's Lab is a high-tech playpen that Victor Von Frankenstein would love.  He is Doc Macabre, and he loves ghost-busting, but when an angry, naked male ghost busts him down, Doc Macabre will need new tech and some help.  The series guest stars Joe Coogan and The Ghoul.

I am going to give The Monstrous Collection of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson a high grade.  One of the reasons I give high grades in comics review is if I like a comic book, trade collection, or graphic novel so much that I wish I could keep reading past the last page.  By the time I got to the end section with the art gallery, I could have read another three Steve Niles and Berni Wrightson miniseries.

The summary on the back of The Monstrous Collection of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson calls Niles and Wrightson two horror legends.  Wrightson certainly is.  I would say that he is the greatest American comic book artist in the genres of horror and dark fantasy, and Wrightson was also quite good at science fiction comic books.  In one of the quotes attributed to him, Wrightson says that all he ever wanted to do was draw, and that is clear in every page in this collection – narrative or otherwise.

I have never thought much of the original 30 Days of Night miniseries that rocketed Steve Niles to comic book fame, although I did like the sequel, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days.  However, I like Dead, She Said, The Ghoul, and Doc Macabre.  They are the kind of pulpy, weird, dark fantasy, and horror fiction that turned writers like H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Machen, and Algernon Blackwood into legends.  So, modern versions of such genres and sub-genres could turn a modern writer into a legend.

Dead, She Said is as witty and as droll as it is ghoulish, kind of like The Maltese Falcon with some of Young Frankenstein's sensibilities.  The Ghoul has two characters perfect for a buddy cop team-up, and The Ghoul would be great alone, in a duo, or in a group; this is a character with potential.  Doc Macabre is silly and frivolous, but the lead character's absent-minded professor vibe gives it potential.

The Monstrous Collection of Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson is a comic book art book that showcases the art of a legend, the late Bernie Wrightson (who died in 2017), but finds the art in the weird imagination of a horror comic book writer.

A
9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for January 24, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV170541    30 DAYS OF NIGHT #2 (OF 6) CVR A TEMPLESMITH    $3.99
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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 20, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT170473    24 LEGACY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TP    $17.99
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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 6, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG170394    DONALD DUCK KINGDOM UNDER THE SEA TP    $12.99
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SEP170480    MONSTROUS COLL STEVE NILES & BERNIE WRIGHTSON TP    $24.99
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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 4, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL170652    DOC MACABRE TREASURY EDITION    $9.99
JUL170027    HCF 2017 GHOSTBUSTERS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (NET)    $PI
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APR170663    SPOOKY & STRANGE TALES MONSTER INN HC    $19.99
DEC160449    WILLIAM GIBSON ARCHANGEL HC    $24.99

I Reads You Juniors September 2017 - Update #50

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From Crunchyroll:  Seven Seas Entertainment continues to announced new manga licenses.

From ChristianPost:  In Japan, "scanners" of the manga "One Piece" have been arrested and charged with copyright infringement.

From SoraNews24:  There is a new manga trying to explain President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

From BleedingCool:  Why can't Marvel keep politics out of its comics... and that is not quite what it seems.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics reveals more "Justice League" movie variant covers.

From BleedingCool:  The news and gossip site begins your "Marvel Legacy" spoilers.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #136 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #136 in French.

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet episode #135 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet episode #135 in French.

From Crunchyroll:  For the 40th anniversary of the "Galaxy Express 999" manga, there will be a stage adaptation of the manga.

From TheNewPaper:  There is a new online course for budding anime and manga artists.

From THR:  IDW Publishing will publish a "Stretch Armstrong" related to a new Netflix animated series, "Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters."

From PreviewsWorld:  New Bernie Wrightson art book coming from Hermes Press.

From ComicBook:  Eiichiro Oda wants to end his "One Piece" manga as soon as possible.

From Newsarama:  The "Guardians of the Galaxy" manga makes its debut as digital comic on the "Manga Box" app.

From BleedingCool:  Mark Waid to attempt to have a "civil conversation" about diversity at Baltimore Comic Con 2017.

From BleedingCool:  Maybe Marvel's "Secret Empire" is not over.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics solicitations through Diamond Comics Distributors for December 2017.

From TheRiderNews:  "Superb" is a new superhero comic book in which the lead character has Down Syndrome.

From BleedingCool:  Adam Hughes will draw the main cover of the DC Comics/Archie Comics crossover, "Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica."

From BleedingCool:  "The Walking Dead #175" is a solo Negan issue.

From Forward:  This week sees the debut of an official comic book adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

From Forward:  Judith Jones, the editor who discovered Anne Franks' diary, died August 1, 2017.  She was 93.

From BleedingCool:  A surprise character from Deadpool's debut may return for Marvel Legacy.

From SoraNews24:  One Piece manga creator, Eiichiro Oda, claims that seven villains have forced him to extend the series far longer than he intended.

From Fansided:  Tony Moore, the original artist on "The Walking Dead" comic book, recreates an iconic Neegan scene that he was not around to draw.

From Crunchyroll:  Shuuichi Shigeno, the creator of the "Initial D" manga, launches a new manga, "MF Ghost."

From TheSignal:  The Santa Clarita Valley newspaper notices when a local guy creates his own comic book, "Zalaan Wars" by A.J. Wedding.

From BleedingCool:  Dennis O'Neil will return to writing Batman for the "DC Universe Holiday Special #1."

From ExpressUK:  Here is the new movie Hellboy.

From BleedingCool:  IDW is rebooting "30 Days of Night" with writer Steve Niles.  Ben Templesmith, the original series artist, will return as cover artist along with original series cover artist, Ashley Wood.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Two-in-One with Chip Zdarsky as writer and Jim Cheung as artist.

From BleedingCool:  IDW's Hasbro (GI Joe, Transformers) event title, "First Strike," will yield a new series, "Scarlett's Strike Force."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #134 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #134 in French.

From TheWrap:  The influential comic book writer and editor Len Wein has died.  He was 69.  He co-created the character Wolverine with artist John Romita.  He revived the X-Men for Marvel Comics in the mid-1970s, launching the version of the team that became a multi-billion dollar franchise.  He co-created the character Swamp Thing with artist Berni Wrightson (who also died this year).  Wein edited writer Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing and Moore and Dave Gibbons comic book, "Watchmen."

From PasteMagazine:  Warren Ellis and Bryan Hill talk to Paste about the upcoming "Michael Cray," comic book from DC Comics that is part of "Wildstorm" reboot.  Includes preview art.

From SouthEssexCollege:  This college is giving Warren Ellis an honorary doctorate.

From BleedingCool:  New speculation over future "Young Animal" comics from DC Comics.

From Negromancer:  At Rose City Comic Con, Image Comics announces a new comic book, "Bitter Root," from David Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene

From BleedingCool:  "Guardians of the Galaxy" is now a manga, "Guardians of the Galaxy: Galaxy Rush."

From BleedingCool:  Arrests were made of people scanning and uploading pages of the "One Piece" manga.

From Slate:  Tom King would like to stay with Batman for 100 issues.  [If he maintains the quality of his writing, he can stay 300 issues. -Ed]

From BleacherReport:  A discussion of WWE comic books.

From BleedingCool:  Retailers will be able to sell the "Dark Knight III" hardcover early.

From WeGotThisCovered: Another article about Marvel Comics' woes, and "diversity characters" (meaning African-American characters) are blamed.

From BleedingCool:  The 2017 Joe Shuster Awards were announced on Friday, September 1, 2017.  First established is 2004, the Joe Shuster Awards serve to recognize the works of Canadians, published at home or abroad, for their outstanding achievements in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and webcomics.  The awards are named after pioneering Canadian artist Joe Shuster, who created Superman with Jerry Siegel.

From StudyGroupComics:  Jim Rugg is on the "Process Party" podcast.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #133 - in English - the pantomime story arc begins!
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #133 - in French

From BleedingCool:  Kirby Genesis, the creation of "Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers" and "Silver Star."

From MangaTokyo:  Comparing the "Kuroko's Basketball" manga and anime.

From ICv2:  Geoff Johns reveals DC Comics' "Doomsday Clock #1" covers.

From YahooNews:  What does the return of the real Captain America mean for the future of Marvel Comics?

From NewRepublic:  August 28th, 2017 would have been Jack Kirby's 100th birthday.  Jeet Heer offers this profile, "Jack Kirby, the Unknown King."

From ComicsBulletin:  Top 10 thoughts on Jack Kirby.

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 26 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT130053 ADVENTURES OF DOG MENDONCA PIZZABOY TP VOL 02 APOCALYPSE $14.99
OCT130071 ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 05 WHAT YOU WANT NOT WHAT YOU NEED $17.99
OCT130070 BREATH OF BONES A TALE O/T GOLEM HC $14.99
DEC130090 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #8 $2.99
OCT130023 CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 07 DAY OF WRATH $19.99
NOV130024 CREEPY COMICS TP VOL 03 LURKING FATE $19.99
DEC130100 FURIOUS #2 $3.99
DEC130062 HALO ESCALATION #3 $3.99
DEC130123 KING CONAN CONQUEROR #1 $3.50
DEC130061 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #8 $3.99
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DEC130106 MIND MGMT #19 $3.99
DEC130104 PARIAH #1 $3.99
DEC130066 SERENITY LEAVES ON THE WIND #2 $3.50
DEC130076 STAR WARS LEGACY II #12 $2.99
DEC130059 TOMB RAIDER #1 $3.50
DEC130069 VANDROID #1 $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN130011 ART OF AKANEIRO HC $19.99
JUL130064 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #3 $2.99
JUL130043 CRIMINAL MACABRE EYES OF FRANKENSTEIN #1 $3.99
MAY130031 CRIMINAL MACABRE FINAL NIGHT 30 DAYS NIGHT XOVER TP $17.99
JUL130068 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #28 (MR) $7.99
MAY130035 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 14 $49.99
JUL130076 EMPOWERED SPECIAL #5 NINE BEERS WITH NINJETTE $3.99
JUL130101 GAME OF THRONES FOUR SIGIL SHOT GLASS SET $19.99
JUL130099 GAME OF THRONES PINT GLASS SET STARK & BARATHEON $19.99
JUL130100 GAME OF THRONES PINT GLASS SET TARGARYEN & LANNISTER $19.99
AUG130124 GAME OF THRONES STANNIS BARATHEON SHIELD PIN $14.99
JAN130156 GARY BASEMAN PINT GLASS $9.99
MAY130078 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE DIY $19.99
MAY130076 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE GREY MONOTONE $19.99
MAY130077 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE HELLBOY WITH HORNS $19.99
JUL130059 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #2 $2.99
JUL130029 KING CONAN HOUR O/T DRAGON #5 $3.50
JUL130019 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #3 $3.99
JUL130071 MIND MGMT #15 $3.99
MAY130033 SIN TITULO HC $19.99
JUL130014 STAR WARS LEGACY II #7 $2.99

Review: BREATH OF BONES: A Tale of the Golem #1

BREATH OF BONES: A TALE OF THE GOLEM #1 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Steve Niles and Matt Santoro
SCRIPT: Steve Niles
ART: Dave Wachter
LETTERS: Nate Piekos (of Blambot)
EDITORS: Scott Allie and Daniel Chabon
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Part 1 of 3

Steve Niles, the creator of 30 Days of Night and Criminal Macabre, is the co-creator of a new dark fantasy miniseries, Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem. Niles, who wrote the story with Matt Santoro, scripts the series, and 2012 Russ Manning Award nominee Dave Wachter is the artist. The series concerns the giant clay monster of Jewish legend, and its battle against Nazis.

Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #1 opens in April 1944 and focuses on Noah, a young soldier. In the heat of battle, Noah recalls his youth, watching his father and the other men of his small European Jewish village leave for battle. Days turn into weeks as he awaits his father’s return. Then, he meets injured British pilot, Simon Richards.

For the most part, how many readers care what I think? I imagine in the scope of things that Dark Horse Comics cares more about a review at Comic Book Resources or at Newsarama than at I Reads You. That is regardless of how many reviews I Reads You has published in its short life.

But I’ll tell y’all what I think of this comic book anyway. I really like Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem. There is a touch of humanity about it that is similar to James Vance and Dan Burr’s recent graphic novel, On the Ropes. I’m not one of those people that get wood whenever I hear that Steve Niles is writing a new scary comic book. I don’t think he’s the Stephen King of American comic books, but still, I’m touched by his new work.

For the most part, the first issue of Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem is a historical drama about the home front during wartime. The lovely art by Dave Wachter is perfect to tell this story of a small village in Europe. The lovely ink wash texture helps to evoke the sense of longing and also the threat of danger on the horizon. Is this hand-drawn ink wash or computer-aided? I’ll be disappointed if it’s the latter. Bring on #2.

People who want good comics want Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem.

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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux