#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #6

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #6 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Immonen; Greg Tocchini
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2022)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order 2 is a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Stuart Immonen.  It is a sequel to The Magic Order, a 2018-19 miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  The Magic Order is a group of sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protects humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.  Colorists David Curiel and Sunny Gho and letterer Clem Robins complete the creative team of the current series.

The Magic Order 2 finds The Magic Order and its new leader, Cordelia Moonstone (an “escapologist”), caught in a turf war.  Their adversaries are Victor Korne and his group of Eastern European warlocks whose ancestors the Order once banished.

The Magic Order 2 #6 opens and it seems as if Victor Korne has won.  He has used the ancient Egyptian talisman, the Stone of Thoth, to summon the creature, Othoul-Endu, from the “Outer Dark.”  With the creature's power, Korne can think anything and it will happen.

A wayward son and a child will ride to the Order's rescue.  But for the Order, nothing will be the same … even if they survive.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my reviews of the fourth and fifth issues:  with each issue, The Magic Order 2 surpasses it predecessor.  That is quite the accomplishment, as the first miniseries, The Magic Order, was and is awesome, but the imagination of Mark Millar is like a magic wand.  Now, The Magic Order 2 #6 closes this great series.

I feel comfortable saying that The Magic Order series is the best English-language, magical fantasy comic book franchise of the moment.  Walt Disney Pictures and Marvel Studios may indeed deliver a gem in its upcoming film, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, but Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange comic book...  Well, don't believe the hype.  Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange showed the potential in comic books about magic, and with The Magic Order 2, Millar pays off on that potential.

Artist Stuart Immonen and colorist David Curiel create a symphony of lightning and supernovas.  I could feel the energy of Immonen and Curiel's work in my eyes.  This story is alive, so alive that it feels like a curtain closing on an act rather than feeling like a finale of an arc.

Comic book readers who hate good comic books are not reading The Magic Order 2.  So I ask again.  Are you reading it, dear readers?

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.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: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #5

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #5 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Immonen; Ryan Sook
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2022)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  Published in 2018-19, The Magic Order focused on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.

We are now deep into a second six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2.  It is written by Mark Millar; drawn by Stuart Immonen; colored by Sunny Gho and David Curiel; and lettered by Clem Robins.  The new series focuses on a magical turf war between The Magic Order and its new leader, Cordelia Moonstone, and a group of Eastern European warlocks whose ancestors the Order once banished.

The Magic Order 2 #5 opens with the story of Francis King and his father, the Lord King.  Then, in the forests outside Bucharest, The Magic Order gathers to battle the warlock Victor Korne and his allies.  This may be the Order's final bid to keep Korne from gaining the last piece of the Stone of Thoth, a talisman from ancient Egypt that summons anything from space, time, and beyond.  But Cordelia and the Order have been a few steps behind their enemies since this conspiracy began, and now, it is worse than ever.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my review of the fourth issue:  with each issue, The Magic Order 2 surpasses it predecessor.  That is quite the accomplishment, as the first miniseries, The Magic Order, was and is awesome.

If The Magic Order series is not the best English-language, magical fantasy comic book franchise of the twenty-first century, it is damn close.  In The Magic Order 2 #5, Mark Millar offers a penultimate issue that would make a monster of a final issue.  I may be running out of words to describe how good this series is, but luckily, Millar is not cursed with my deficiency because the words in his storytelling are magic.

Stuart Immonen turns Millar's script into superb comic book storytelling, but what else is new?  Immonen has been an ass kicker in storytelling for ages, so he must be a member of The Magic Order.  David Curiel's lovely colors make the story pop off the page, and Clem Robins' lettering super-charges art and colors that are already super-charged.

Comic book readers who hate good comic books are not reading The Magic Order 2.  Are you reading it, dear readers?

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.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: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #4

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #4 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: Sunny Gho and David Curiel
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Immonen; Greg Tocchini
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2022)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  Published in 2018-19, The Magic Order focused on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.

A second six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2, has arrived.  It is written by Mark Millar; drawn by Stuart Immonen; colored by Sunny Gho and David Curiel; and lettered by Clem Robins.  The new series focuses on a magical turf war between The Magic Order and a group of Eastern European warlocks whose ancestors the Order once banished.

The Magic Order 2 #4 opens in Glascow.  The allies of the warlock Victor Korne have retrieved another piece of the Stone of Thoth, a talisman from ancient Egypt that summons anything from space, time, and beyond.  Standing in their way is The Magic Order … oops.

Standing in the way of The Magic Order is troubled wizard and drug addict, Francis King, who has just killed a fellow member of the Order.  What will the Order do?  What will Moonstone cousin, Kevin Mitchell, do to Francis?  Meanwhile, Korne's forces begin to take their revenge on humanity for spending five hundred years bowing to puny humans.

THE LOWDOWN:  With each issue, The Magic Order 2 surpasses it predecessor.  That is quite the accomplishment, as The Magic Order is awesome, dude.

I'm getting tired of praising Mark Millar; he's just too good.  I can't do words like him, so it is getting hard to praise.  But it ain't getting hard to keep on loving his comics.  Holla!  If only he'd stop writing something great like The Magic Order 2 and write something mediocre like whatever crossover events Marvel and DC Comics are churning out.  Harry Potter and Doctor Strange wish they could be as good as The Magic Order 2.

And to Hell with Stuart Immonen and his super-talented ass.  He's been rocking my world since Shock Rockers.  Here, his storytelling bleeds electricity and casts a glamour on his readers – especially me.  With the potent colors of Sunny Gho and David Curiel, Immonen delivers something that is simply great and a blast to read.

God, it's only issue four.  I don't know if I can make it two more issues.  Dear readers, come on experience the joy of The Magic Order 2.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #3

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #3 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: Sunny Gho and David Curiel
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Immonen; Jason Shawn Alexander
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  Published in 2018-19, The Magic Order focused on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.

A second six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2, has arrived.  It is written by Mark Millar; drawn by Stuart Immonen; colored by Sunny Gho and David Curiel; and lettered by Clem Robins.  The new series focuses on a magical turf war between The Magic Order and a group of Eastern European warlocks whose ancestors the Order once banished.

The Magic Order 2 #3 opens in Romania, one thousand years ago.  The first of the Moonstones leads a band of wizards from the thirteen corners of the Earth against the dark wizard, Soren Korne.  Their victory against him – a twist of fate involving a creature known as “Othoul-Endu” – changed the world for humanity.  The Magic Order was born, and it made the bad things go away.

Back in the present, Korne's descendant, Victor, has gathered his forces, and they are making their move to retrieve the pieces of the Stone of Thoth, a talisman from ancient Egypt that summons anything from space, time, and beyond.  Standing in their way is The Magic Order … and standing in the way of the Order is one of their own, the troubled wizard, Francis King!

THE LOWDOWN:  In the wake of the Black Wedding, as seen in The Magic Order 2 #2, I was ready to go deeper into the sequel to my favorite Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic book, The Magic Order.  Of course, this third issue does not disappoint.

One of the many things that Millar does supremely well as a comic book writer is make his characters, the good, the bad, and the depraved, engaging.  It is one thing to fashion personalities for fictional characters that are the good guys.  It is quite another to make even the most despicable villains have motivations that feel genuine to the readers – even if those motivations are … also despicable.

If The Magic Order is really like a blend of Harry Potter with a Martin Scorsese mob film, the series needs comic book artists whose storytelling chops are strong enough to make The Magic Order more than that.  Here, there are dark arts families that are as ruthless as a mob family, and the magic is as big as anything found in Harry Potter media.

What Stuart Immonen brings to this mix is power and scope.  Whatever he presents on the page, he imbues with the sense that there is more.  He makes the masters of the dark arts characters malevolent and malignant rather than simply being evil.  And what about the struggle of the heroes?  Well, it's worse than it looks.  The good guys may be powerful, but Immonen depicts that struggles and troubles as ever bigger.  I've been reading comic books so long, and Lord, it is good to know that there are still artists that can grab my imagination and sweep the cynicism and cobwebs away.

Seriously, what Millar and Immonen are delivering in The Magic Order 2 would scare mobsters and make boy wizards pee their pants.  If you aren't reading The Magic Order 2, dear readers, your pull list is out of order.  And you don't need to be a wizard to fix this pitiful situation.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #2

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #2 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Immonen; Gene Ha
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  Published in 2018-19, The Magic Order focused on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.

A second six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2, has arrived.  It is written by Mark Millar; drawn by Stuart Immonen; colored by Sunny Gho; and lettered by Clem Robins.  The new series focuses on a magical turf war between The Magic Order and a group of Eastern European warlocks whose ancestors the Order once banished.

As The Magic Order 2 #2 opens, the wizard Francis King returns from an addiction center … just in time, as the Order needs all the members it can summon.  The Moonstones, Cordelia and Regan, and their cousin, Kevin Mitchell, have discovered that a piece of the Stone of Thoth has been taken.  A talisman from ancient Egypt that summon anything from space, time, and beyond, the Stone of Thoth has been guarded by Kevin's chapter of the Order.  It was divided into four pieces and hidden, and now, an unknown enemy is searching out the pieces.

Five hundred years after The Magic Order made all the monsters disappear, they are mysteriously reappearing.  And the dark forces that are magic's underbelly are emerging.

THE LOWDOWN:  I've been saying this for a few years.  The Magic Order is my favorite Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic book.  When it debuted three years ago, the series gave us a thrilling introduction to a new world and new universe of magic, magical beings, and magical conspiracies.  The Magic Order is really like a blend of Harry Potter with a Martin Scorsese mob film.

To read and enjoy and understand The Magic Order 2, one does not have to have read the original series.  Mark Millar throws readers right into a riveting and alluring conspiracy, and his script for The Magic Order 2 #2 recalls the riveting thrills of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and the alluring conspiracy of Watchmen.  One of the things that made these comic books so great was that reading them was like experiencing something that had never been seen in the mainstream American comic books that had come before them.

Becoming a Netflix executive did not stop Mark Millar from being one of the very best comic book writers in the English language.  He has given The Magic Order 2 #2 to us as a warning, just in case we thought that he might have slipped.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #1

THE MAGIC ORDER 2 #1 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Stuart Immonen
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Greg Tocchini; Mark Chiarello; Ozgur Yildirim; Stuart Immonen
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2021)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel.  Published in 2018-19, The Magic Order focused on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.

A second six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2, has arrived.  It is written by Mark Millar; drawn by Stuart Immonen; colored by Sunny Gho; and lettered by Clem Robins.

As The Magic Order 2 #1 opens, it has been six months since Cordelia Moonstone cast that spell involving her late brother, Gabriel.  Right now, her brother, Regan, and his friend, Eddie, are dealing with a boy and his awful imaginary friend.  Meanwhile, Cordelia is living her best lust … er... life.

Now, it's time for a family reunion, of sorts, for the birthday of their niece, Gabriel's daughter, Rosetta “Rosie” Moonstone.  But the festivities are interrupted by a visit from the London chapter of the Order.  An old bloodline of dark forces is starting to flow again.

THE LOWDOWN:  I think The Magic Order is my favorite Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic book.  When it debuted three years ago, the series gave us a thrilling introduction to a new world and new universe of magic, magical beings, and magical conspiracies.  The Magic Order is really like a blend of Harry Potter with a Martin Scorsese mob film.

The Magic Order 2 #1 reads best if you, dear readers, read the first series, but I believe that most readers can love this first issue even if this is their first taste of the spell that is the universe of The Magic Order.  Millar throws the readers right into a riveting and alluring conspiracy, and every page is a wonder that makes me want more.  I could have screamed when I looked at the last page, knowing that I have to wait for more.  Truthfully, the opening of this second series is like the opening of the first; Millar throws the readers right into murder, mystery, dark magic, and conspiracy.

Stuart Immonen is probably the perfect replacement for original series artist, Olivier Coipel, as like Coipel, Immonen is a veteran artist with exceptional skills at composition and with strong storytelling skills.  The franchise does not miss a beat from first to second, mainly because Immonen's art looks similar to Coipel's.  Sunny Gho's colors convey the story's shifting moods, but also hint at the sense of menace and dread that hangs over this first chapter.  And as always, letterer Clem Robins makes sure we hear the coming fury.

Lord knows I've been waiting, and The Magic Order 2 #1 does not disappoint on any level.  The excitement, secrets, thrills, and magic are back.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 2.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://twitter.com/themagicorder
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com


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

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

Review: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #789

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 789
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Slott
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross (based on art by John Romita); Steve Ditko with Michael Kelleher
32pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated  “T”

Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

“Fall of Parker” Part 1 – “Top to Bottom”

In a previous review, I stated that there were were three comic book series to start with the title and issue number, The Amazing Spider-Man #1, beginning with the original in 1962.  I wrote that as I began my review of the fourth regular comic book to have that title and issue number – the third in 16 years and the second in three years.  Two years later, facing reportedly plummeting sales, Marvel Comics has launched its “Legacy” initiative, which would bring Marvel titles back to their original issue numbering.

So we come to The Amazing Spider-Man #789 (“Top to Bottom”) and the beginning of a “back to basics” story arc, entitled “Fall of Parker.”  It is written by Dan Slott; drawn by Stuart Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by Marte Gracia; and lettered by Joe Caramagna; with cover art by Alex Ross.  Before we move on with this review, I don't think The Amazing Spider-Man #789 is any different from what The Amazing Spider-Man #33 (2015) would have been.

The Amazing Spider-Man #789 opens in the aftermath of the fall of Spider-Man/Peter Parker's behemoth tech company, Parker Industries.  Parker is basically living on a couch in the apartment of Bobbi Morse, who is the superhero, Mockingbird.  Everyone, mainly the general public and customers of Parker Industries tech and software, hates Peter Parker.  Then, Parker decides that being the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man will cure his ills, but nothing every really works out perfectly for puny Parker and Spidey.

The recent movie Spider-Man: Homecoming makes it clear that high school Peter Parker/Spider-Man is such an attracting and lovable character.  After all, that is the original version of the character that creators Steve Ditko and Stan Lee gave us back in 1962.  Post-high school Spider-Man is also immensely likable, but, over the decades, that Peter Parker has been such a mixed bag, entirely the fault of various writers.

Adult Peter Parker, as depicted by writer Dan Slott, has been interesting, mostly.  However, the last two years, Slott has played Peter Parker as less the lovable loser, hard-luck guy and more like Tony Stark.  That, in turn, has made Spider-Man a kind of tech-driven, Iron Man-like hero.  Stark-ish Parker is cute as a novelty.  Spider-Man as a jet-setting, international hero is also nice – as a novelty.

Spider-Man is a regular guy superhero.  Yes, the character has extraordinary and weird powers, but the civilian Peter Parker is the guy who looks out for his family and protects and serves his family.  While Parker has always been depicted as a scientific genius, playing hero-by-gadget isn't Spider-Man, who has always seemed to be about service and personal sacrifice.

So, what about The Amazing Spider-Man #789?  It's just a run-of-the-mill story which suggests or hints at nothing but the status quo.  More accurately, it is just another first chapter in an eventual trade paperback collection.  While “Fall of Parker” could turn out to be an exceptional story arc (which I doubt), the first chapter in The Amazing Spider-Man #789 represents the mediocrity that has unfortunately also been part of the Marvel recent “Legacy.”

[This comic book includes a Spider-Man “Legacy” overview short story written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Mark Bagley (pencils) and John Dell (inker); colored by Dan Brown; and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.]

C
4 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: EMPRESS #7

EMPRESS No. 7
MARVEL COMICS/Icon – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Ive Svorcina and Sunny Gho
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Dave McCaig
VARIANT COVERS: Stuart Immonen; Stuart Immonen with Dave McCaig
44pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2017)

Rated T+

Empress created by Mark Millar and Stuart Immonen

Empress is a comic book miniseries from celebrity comic book creator, Mark Millar, and popular comic book artist, Stuart Immonen.  The series focuses on the wife of a ruthless galactic conqueror who escapes her husband with their three children and a loyal bodyguard.  Empress is written by Millar, drawn by Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by Ive Svorcina with Sunny Gho; and lettered by Peter Doherty.

Empress is set 65 million years ago and tells the story of Earth's first rulers.  This is a civilization lost in history, a time when people lived in gleaming cities at the same time dinosaurs still existed.  King Morax is the merciless ruler who executes his citizens with impunity.

His wife, Queen Emporia, has seen enough of her husband's monstrous ways.  She plots to take her three children:  a brash teenage daughter, Aine; a bookish 'tween son, Adam; and an infant son, Puck.  Loyal Captain Dane Havelock will pilot their escape ship, but even his skills may not be enough to keep them from the reach of King Morax.  They are eventually joined by the diminutive Tor and “Ship,” a floating, spherical machine that can teleport itself and its compatriots anywhere in the galaxy.

As Empress #7 opens, Emporia and company think they are safe, but Aine decides to take matters into her own hands.  Now, King Morax has arrived and is offering his quarry a chance to fight to the death.  But ultimately, he may be the one surprised.

In press interviews to promote Empress, Mark Millar said that he wanted to do a sci-fi comic book that was fun.  Well, Empress is fun, and I had a blast reading it.  This final issue is filled with happy surprises, some of it a bit to good to be true, but the golly-gee-whiz space opera of Empress demands that you suspend disbelief

Colorists Ive Svorcina and Sunny Gho turn Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger's compositions into space opera eye candy.  It is all prettier than I expected.  Usually I have to find a copy of The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch or some old B.E.M. comics from Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez when I want to have so sparkly, old-fashioned sci-fi fun.  Now, I have Empress, too.

I am glad to hear that there will be two more Empress miniseries.  Hopefully, they will be produced by Millar and Immonen and not some surrogates.

A-

http://www.millarworld.tv/

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: MOSAIC #1

MOSAIC No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Geoffrey Thorne
ARTIST: Khary Randolph
COLORS: Emilio Lopez
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Marco D'Alfonso; Mike Deodato with Frank Martin; Khary Randolph; Pasqual Ferry with Frank D'Armata
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated T+

Episode One: “Mood Indigo”

Out of Civil War II.  Part of Marvel Comics' initiative “NOW!”  Here, comes Marvel's newest Black superhero, Mosaic, and he is the star of his own comic book, entitled Mosaic, of course.  It is written by Geoffrey Thorne; drawn by Khary Randolph; colored by Emilio Lopez; and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Mosaic #1 (“Mood Indigo”) introduces Morris Sackett, maybe the best professional basketball player in the world.  He has led the New York Stride to five championships in five seasons.  As far as Morris is concerned, he is the sole reason that the Stride has won five titles.  However, exposure to Terrigen mists changes Morris in ways that are shocking.  One of the newest Inhumans is about to lose his physical form while inheriting many more.

According to what I have read, writer Geoffrey Thorne and artist Khary Randolph want to explode stereotypes for Black superheroes when it comes to Morris Sackett a.k.a. Mosaic.  I don't know what those stereotypes are.  Even with the relatively small number of Black superheroes in both the Marvel and DC Comics universes, characters are unique and mostly fully formed.  Black Panther is not like Storm is not like Luke Cage/Power Man, and I never thought that Cyborg was like Black Lightning.

The stereotype of Black superheroes is that they are stereotypical.  They are not all noble Negroes in the tradition of Civil Rights activists, nor are they sullen anti-heroes out to get the system.  Under the guiding hand of comics most skilled writers, there have been some really good Black Panther and Blade comic books – to name a few of a few.  The reality (not stereotype) is that many Black superheroes have been featured in comic books in which the writers have those assignments because they are someone's friend more so than because they are good storytellers.  Black superheroes have not been stereotypes; they simply have been in badly written (and sometimes poorly drawn) comic books.

Mosaic #1 suggests that Thorne is a good writer, although his “street lingo” leaves something to be desired.  I give most of the credit for the success of Mosaic #1 to artist Khary Randolph.  This first issue has a lively visual and graphical style that mimics the energy and movement of animated films.  Randolph's art is both stylish and earthy, giving Mosaic a vibe that is different from just about everything else Marvel is publishing.

I'm ready for more and recommend this title.

A-

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 5, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

MAY170894    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #5    $3.99
MAY170911    ALL NEW WOLVERINE #22    $3.99
MAY170985    AVENGERS #9 BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
MAY170779    AVENGERS #9 SE    $3.99
JAN171093    AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $125.00
MAY170860    BLACK BOLT #3    $3.99
APR171163    CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP BUCKY REBORN    $39.99
APR178798    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #17 2ND PTG TORQUE VAR    $3.99
MAY170782    CHAMPIONS #10 SE    $3.99
MAY170866    DAREDEVIL #23    $3.99
OCT161024    DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN TP NEW PTG    $19.99
MAY170819    DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #1    $3.99
MAY170820    DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #1 WALSH VAR    $3.99
JAN171096    DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERER SUPREME OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $125.00
APR171128    EMPRESS TP BOOK 01    $19.99
APR171149    GAMORA MEMENTO MORI TP    $15.99
MAY170990    GENERATIONS BANNER HULK TOTALLY AWESOME HULK POSTER    $8.99
MAY170805    GENERATIONS BY ALEX ROSS OVERSIZED VINYL POSTER    $34.99
MAY170991    GENERATIONS HAWKEYE & HAWKEYE BY TORQUE POSTER    $8.99
MAY170988    GENERATIONS PHOENIX & JEAN GREY BY DODSON POSTER    $8.99
MAY170986    GENERATIONS UNWORTHY THOR & MIGHTY THOR BY COIPEL POSTER    $8.99
MAY170989    GENERATIONS WOLVERINE & ALL NEW WOLVERINE BY COIPEL POSTER    $8.99
MAY170888    HAWKEYE #8    $3.99
MAY170987    INHUMANS ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS BY BRADSHAW POSTER    $8.99
APR171137    INHUMANS VS X-MEN HC    $50.00
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MAY170922    MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN VS SINISTER SIX #11    $2.99
MAY170825    MARVELS THOR RAGNAROK PRELUDE #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JAN171094    MMW SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 01    $75.00
JAN171095    MMW SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 01 DM VAR ED 250    $75.00
JAN171092    MONSTERS UNLEASHED MONSTER SIZE HC    $50.00
MAY170889    NICK FURY #4    $3.99
MAY170774    SECRET EMPIRE BRAVE NEW WORLD #3 (OF 5) SE    $3.99
MAY170853    SPIDER-MAN #18    $3.99
MAY170851    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #19    $3.99
APR171138    SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE HC    $50.00
MAY170837    SPIDER-MAN MASTER PLAN #1    $3.99
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MAY170924    STAR WARS #33    $3.99
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MAR171131    STAR WARS TP VOL 05 YODAS SECRET WAR    $17.99
MAR178048    TRUE BELIEVERS AMAZING FANTASY STARRING SPIDER-MAN #1    $1.00
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MAY170893    UNSTOPPABLE WASP #7    $3.99
APR178800    VENOM #6 2ND PTG SANDOVAL VAR    $3.99
APR178801    WEAPON X #3 2ND PTG LAND VAR    $3.99
APR178802    X-MEN BLUE #3 2ND PTG ART ADAMS VAR    $3.99
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APR178804    X-MEN GOLD #3 2ND PTG SYAF VAR    $3.99
APR178805    X-MEN GOLD #4 2ND PTG SYAF VAR    $3.99
MAY170802    X-MEN GOLD #7 SE    $3.99

Review EMPRESS #1

EMPRESS No. 1
MARVEL COMICS/Icon – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Ive Svorcina
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Dave McCaig
VARIANT COVERS: Stuart Immonen; Stuart Immonen with Dave McCaig; Skottie Young; Steve McNiven with Ive Scorvina; Sean Gordon Murphy with Marte Gracia
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2016)

Rated T+

Empress is a new comic book series created by writer Mark Millar and artist Stuart Immonen.  The series focuses on the wife of a ruthless galactic conqueror and her bid to escape with their children.  Empress will apparently be comprised of three six-issue story arcs.  Empress is written by Millar, drawn by Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by Ive Svorcina; and lettered by Peter Doherty.

Empress #1 opens on Earth 65 million years ago during the time of Earth's first rulers.  This is a civilization lost to us when people lived in gleaming cities at the same time dinosaurs still existed.  King Morax is the merciless ruler who executes his citizens with impunity.  His wife, Queen Emporia, has seen enough of her husband's monstrous ways.  She plots to take her three children:  a brash teenage daughter, Aine; a bookish 'tween son, Adam; and an infant son, Puck.  Loyal Captain Dane Havelock will pilot their escape ship, but even his skills may not be enough to keep them from the reach of King Morax.

In press interviews to promote Empress, Mark Millar said that he wanted to do a sci-fi comic book that was fun.  He wanted Empress to be more in line with the original Star Wars (1977) and not like Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), a dark and edgy tale that has been influential on modern science fiction films.  And yes, Empress is fun – very fun.

With its dinosaurs, gleaming cities, a merciless ruler, and interstellar travel, Empress recalls Alex Raymond's comic strip, Flash Gordon, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' seminal planetary romance, the Barsoom series (also known as John Carter of Mars).  Both Flash Gordon and John Carter were obviously influential on the space opera, Star Wars, which informs Empress to some extent.

At this early point in the narrative, the characters are largely unknown, but Millar gives us a clear, basic explanation of the lead characters' motivations.  What really thrills at this point is the sparkly art by Immonen, von Grawbadger, and Svorcina.  The graphical storytelling is clean, spectacular though not complex, and, quite frankly, pretty.

So, yeah, I'm recommending Empress.  I enjoyed this first issue more than I did the first issues of other recent Millar comics, Chrononauts and Huck.

A-

http://www.millarworld.tv/

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 8, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

NOV160960    ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT AVENGERS TP VOL 03 CIVIL WAR II    $15.99
DEC161056    ALL NEW WOLVERINE #17    $3.99
DEC160971    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #4    $3.99
DEC161116    AVENGERS #4 BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
NOV160967    AVENGERS K TP BOOK 04 SECRET INVASION    $24.99
DEC160984    BLACK WIDOW #11    $3.99
NOV168918    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #8 2ND PTG SAIZ VAR    $3.99
NOV160981    CLOAK AND DAGGER TP SHADOWS AND LIGHT    $34.99
AUG160986    DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 KIRBY DM VAR ED    $125.00
AUG160985    DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 ROSS CVR    $125.00
DEC161058    DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE SAILOR #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
DEC161040    DEADPOOL THE DUCK #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
DEC161041    DEADPOOL THE DUCK #3 (OF 5) CONNECTING C VAR    $3.99
DEC161117    DEVIL DINOSAUR BY JACK KIRBY POSTER    $8.99
DEC161016    DOCTOR STRANGE PUNISHER MAGIC BULLETS #3 (OF 4)    $4.99
DEC161017    DOCTOR STRANGE PUNISHER MAGIC BULLETS #3 (OF 4) MCKELVIE VAR    $4.99
DEC161013    DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERERS SUPREME #5    $3.99
NOV160947    EMPRESS BOOK ONE PREMIERE HC    $24.99
DEC160990    FOOLKILLER #4    $3.99
NOV160977    GHOST RIDER WOLVERINE PUNISHER TP HEARTS OF DARKNESS    $15.99
DEC161023    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #17    $3.99
DEC161024    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #17 BEST BENDIS MOMENTS VAR    $3.99
DEC161119    GWENSTER UNLEASHED GWENGAM BY GOOGWEN POSTER    $8.99
NOV168919    HULK #1 2ND PTG DEKAL NOW    $3.99
NOV168920    INFAMOUS IRON MAN #3 2ND PTG MALEEV VAR    $3.99
NOV160956    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 03 CIVIL WAR II    $24.99
DEC160906    IVX #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
DEC160907    IVX #4 (OF 6) MICHAEL CHO VAR    $3.99
DEC160908    IVX #4 (OF 6) SOOK VAR    $3.99
DEC160909    IVX #4 (OF 6) SYAF INHUMANS VAR    $3.99
DEC160994    JESSICA JONES #5    $3.99
DEC160995    JESSICA JONES #5 FOSGITT VAR    $3.99
DEC160863    KINGPIN #1    $3.99
DEC161060    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #17    $2.99
NOV160989    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY DIGEST TP VOL 04    $9.99
AUG160988    MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 10    $100.00
AUG160989    MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 10 DM VAR ED 241    $100.00
DEC160981    MS MARVEL #15    $3.99
DEC160998    POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #13    $3.99
AUG160997    STAR WARS DARTH VADER HC VOL 02    $39.99
DEC161064    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #4    $3.99
NOV160987    STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION TP EMPIRE VOL 03    $39.99
NOV168921    THANOS #2 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR    $3.99
DEC161118    THUNDERBOLTS #10 BY MALIN POSTER    $8.99
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DEC161008    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #17    $3.99
DEC160902    UNCANNY INHUMANS #1.MU    $4.99
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DEC160947    UNWORTHY THOR #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV168923    VENOM #2 2ND PTG SANDOVAL VAR    $3.99

Review: UNCANNY X-MEN #600

UNCANNY X-MEN No. 600
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Micheal Bendis
PENCILS:  Sara Pichelli, Mahmud Asrar, Stuart Immonen, Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez, Frazer Irving
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger, Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin
COLORS: Marte Gracia, Jason Keith, Chis Bachalo, Frazer Irving
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Bachalo
VARIANT COVERS: Art Adams with Jason Keith; Kris Anka; John Tyler Christopher; Olivier Coipel with Marte Gracia; Adam Hughes; Rick Leonardi and Dan Green with Jason Keith; Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines with Val Staples; Paul Smith with Paul Mounts; Leinel Yu with Jason Keith
60pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Rated T+

X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

With the arrival of the “All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe,” X-Men comic books are entering a new era.  Apparently if all the incarnations of Uncanny X-Men are added together, the result is that 600 issues of comic books entitled Uncanny X-Men have been published.  It is that 600th issue that marks the end of something, if not an era, then, the end of Brian Michael Bendis' tenure as an X-Men writer.

Uncanny X-Men #600 opens at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.  Storm has called all the X-Men currently residing at the school to a meeting.  It's an intervention for Dr. Henry McCoy, or you can call it “The Trial of Beast, and Hank sure ain't feeling the love.  Also, young Iceman has a serious talk with adult Iceman.  Plus, a summons from Washington...

I found the Iceman/Iceman conversation to be heartfelt, and the Jean Grey-Beast meeting felt like something big.  The rest of “The Trial of Beast” does not amount to very much.  After months of delay, all readers get is this tepid tale – simple as that.  Considering the high-quality work that Bendis did on Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men #600 is quite disappointing.

B-

“Winter Carnival” (bonus story)

Writer: Mary Jo Duffy
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Alfredo Alcala
Letters: Janice Chiang

As a bonus, Uncanny X-Men No. 600 closes with a reprint of the black and white story, “Winter Carnival.”  This 18-page story originally appeared in Bizarre Adventures #27.  This was the X-Men-themed issue of Marvel Comics' black and white comics magazine series that was published from the mid-1970s (under a different title) to the early 1980s.

The story finds Robert L. “Bobby” Drake a.k.a. Iceman as a visiting college student at Dartmouth College (an Ivy League school in Hanover, New Hampshire).  The campus is covered in snow, which is appropriate as this is the time of year for the celebration known as “Winter Carnival.”  Bobby discovers that Iceman is needed when crime decides not to take the weekend off and join in the wintry fun.

I wish Mary Jo Duffy (also known as simply Jo Duffy) were still writing her character-centrist stories for either Marvel or DC Comics.  I don't think that she has written for either publisher in over a decade.  In this story, she allows Iceman to shine as a superhero, but she opens the interior Bobby Drake, depicting him as thoughtful and possessing of a personality and of a sparkling wit.

Many readers may not recognize the art in “Winter Carnival” as that of George Perez (I didn't.), as it has very little resemblance to the graphic style that would define Perez's career on works like New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and Wonder Woman, to name a few.  However, readers will get a chance to see the talents of inker Alfredo Alcala, whose ink wash over Perez's pencils does not look as good on glossy paper as it would on some good old-fashioned newsprint comic books.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: STAR WARS #8

STAR WARS (2015) No. 8
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS:  Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC's Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Justin Ponsor
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2015)

Rated T

Book II, Part I: “Showdown on the Smugglers' Moon”

I have already reviewed two issues of Marvel Comics' revival of its Star Wars comic book series, which began earlier this year and now includes two other ongoing series and two miniseries (thus far).  I reviewed Star Wars issues #1 and #7.  I did not expect to review another issue of Star Wars for at least half a year.

However, Star Wars #8 (“Showdown on the Smugglers' Moon”) introduces the new art team of penciler Stuart Immonen and inker Wade von Grawbadger.  As a team, they are known for their work on writer Brian Bendis' All-New X-Men and on All-New Captain America, in which Sam Wilson/The Falcon becomes the new Captain America.

When last we left our heroes (Star Wars #6), Princess Leia and Han Solo were traveling together, searching the galaxy for a suitable site for a new base for the Rebel Alliance.  They ran afoul of Imperial patrol ships and ended up landing on a remote planet in an uncharted region of the Outer Rim.  There, they have an even more shocking encounter when they meet a woman named Sana Solo, who claims to be Han's wife.  Sana is thinking about killing Han and selling out Leia, but the Imperials have plans of their own to pursue their quarry rebels.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker has just left his home world of Tatooine, where he discovered the secret journal left for him by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi a.k.a. “Old Ben Kenobi.”  However, Luke believes that he needs more information than what he has thus far found in the journal, if he is going to become a true Jedi.  So he decides to travel to the former home of the Jedi, but first he makes a stop on Nar Shaddaa, “The Smuggler's Moon.”

I must be honest and admit that I was shocked by the art that Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger delivered for their debut issue.  Combined with Justin Ponsor's gorgeous coloring, this team has delivered stellar work that blends the best of Adam Hughes, Bryan Hitch, and Kevin Nowlan.  Both in terms of graphical storytelling and style, Stuart and Wade create a kind of Star Wars comic book art that is classic Star Wars.  In addition, their Star Wars also recalls the vivid colors and snappy adventure storytelling of Marvel's 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film.

Once again, the creators of a Marvel Star Wars comic book title have me chomping at the bit to read the next issue.  In the case of Star Wars, I am not ashamed to be a fanboy.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Rick Remender
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Marte Gracia with Eduardo Navarro
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia
VARIANT COVERS: Paul Pope; Alex Ross; Sara Pichelli with Laura Martin; Kris Anka
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

As part of its “Avenger NOW!” initiative, Marvel Comics is debuting some new titles and relaunching others.  All-New Captain America is a relaunch.  Written by Rick Remender, drawn by Stuart Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks), colored by Marte Gracia (with Eduardo Navarro), and lettered by Joe Caramagna, this Captain America title launches superhero, Sam Wilson a.k.a. The Falcon, as the new-look Captain America.

The Falcon is an African-American superhero created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan that first appeared in Captain America #117 (cover dated: September 1969).  In his new role, the Falcon gets Captain America's shield and a redesigned uniform, as well as a new version of his Falcon wings.  Sam Wilson also gets a partner, Ian Zola, the son Arnim Zola.  Ian is the new Nomad.

All-New Captain America #1 finds Captain America and Nomad, with Redwing (a highly-trained hunting falcon), infiltrating a Hydra base hidden beneath a mountain.  The new Captain America wants to show that he can be the man, but visiting mercenary, Batroc, doesn't thing agree.  Besides, Batroc isn't the only familiar face making a surprise appearance.

I have not read many comic books written by Rick Remender.  This first issue of  All-New Captain America makes me want to read more.  This story features some typical superhero action, but it has a humorous streak, and all the major characters seem to be on equal footing.  Also, the battle depicted here will not be a one-sided affair, and the winner(s) will have to earn it.  The situation is in flux for the new Captain America and that piques my interest.

Before there was All-New Captain America, there was All-New X-Men, which was guided by the art team of Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia.  I loved the art in that flashy new, X-Men comic book, but I came to take it for granted.  Seeing their work here, however, makes me appreciate this art team all over again.  This is one pretty comic book, so I think I'll come back to All-New Captain America to see if this entire creative team can make something special of this new series and this new Captain America.  I think they can.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 24, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

OCT148170     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR     $3.99
OCT140866     ALL NEW INVADERS #13     $3.99
OCT140799     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #18     $3.99
OCT140893     ALL NEW X-MEN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
OCT140934     AMAZING X-MEN TP VOL 02 WORLD WAR WENDIGO     $17.99
OCT140787     AVENGERS AND X-MEN AXIS #9     $4.99
OCT140805     CAPTAIN AMERICA AND MIGHTY AVENGERS #3 AXIS     $3.99
SEP140919     CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 05 TOMORROW SOLDIER     $24.99
OCT140901     CYCLOPS #8     $3.99
OCT140873     DAREDEVIL #11     $3.99
OCT140879     DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE PRISONER #5     $3.99
OCT140801     DEADPOOL #39 AXIS     $3.99
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OCT140792     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #9 AXIS     $3.99
OCT140898     MAGNETO #13     $3.99
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OCT148171     SUPERIOR IRON MAN #1 2ND PTG CHOI VAR AXIS     $3.99
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OCT140888     UNCANNY X-MEN #29     $3.99
OCT140926     X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP CHILDREN OF ATOM     $34.99
OCT140941     X-MEN TP VOL 03 ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT     $39.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 8 2014

MARVEL COMICS

NOV130650 A PLUS X #16 $3.99
OCT130779 ALL NEW INVADERS #1 BY SINGH POSTER $8.99
NOV130543 ALL NEW MARVEL NOW POINT ONE #1 ANMN $5.99
OCT130780 ALL NEW MARVEL POINT ONE #1 BY LARROCA POSTER $8.99
NOV130607 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #1 ANMN $3.99
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NOV130587 BLACK WIDOW #1 ANMN $3.99
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NOV130688 CABLE AND X-FORCE #18 XFV $3.99
NOV130656 CATACLYSM ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #3 $3.99
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NOV130649 DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #8 $2.99
NOV130695 DEADPOOL #22 $2.99
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I Reads You Review: ALL-NEW X-MEN #15

ALL-NEW X-MEN #15
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ARTIST: David Lafuente
COLORS: Jim Campbell
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Rain Beredo
28pp, Colors, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

By now, some of you, dark readers, know the premise of All-New X-Men, one of the titles born out of Marvel Comics’ Marvel NOW initiative.  At the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, Storm, Wolverine, Beast, Iceman, and Kitty Pryde try to keep Professor Charles Xavier’s dream alive.  Meanwhile, Cyclops/Scott Summers, one of the original X-Men, has become a highly controversial figure, and he is now the public face of a new mutant revolution.

In a desperate bid to stop Cyclops from triggering a mutant apocalypse, Beast/Hank McCoy (who was dying at one point) goes back in time.  He brings the original X-Men:  Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel, back with him.  Beast hopes that what they learn in his present/their future, they can take back to their time and keep a dark future from happening.  The teens decide to stay and fix what is wrong… now.

All-New X-Men #15 is a stand-alone issue that focuses on the original X-Men.  The story opens with the return of Rachel Grey to the mansion.  Is she ready for the original Jean Grey?  More complications arise for young Jean during a vehicle repair session with the adult Beast.  What she inadvertently learns from him could change the group dynamics of the original X-Men.

Meanwhile, young Scott and Bobby (Iceman) decide to “blow this popsicle stand.”  They basically run away from home/the school to be with real people and to do things that real teenagers do.  They end up at a street market, where they make new friends.  But will their mutant powers get in the way?

I am reviewing All-New X-Men #15 in order to praise guest artist, David Lafuente.  His work here reminds me of Mike Allred’s art for the late X-Statix, one of my favorite X-Men comic book series.  I think Lafuente’s alt-comix and semi-retro style is perfect for telling character drama-based (with some comedy) stories starring the original X-Men.  This is one of my favorite issues of what is my favorite X-Men comic book.

I am not quite at the point where I want to call Brian Michael Bendis one of the all-time great X-Men writers.  That would put him (in my estimation) with Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Grant Morrison.  But he’s getting close.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Albert Avilla Review: All-New X-Men #11

All New X-Men 011

Review by Albert Avilla

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Stuart Immonen
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors: Marte Gracia

We’re at issue #11 already and things are still rolling. Here are some words that I never thought I would say: Brian Michael Bendis is one of my favorite X-writers of all time.

There have been some legendary writers who have chronicled the exploits of the X-Men; Bendis is more than holding his own. He is bringing his A-game. Bendis has been honing his craft, and now we get to enjoy the work of a master who is prolific enough to put quality work on the stands on a consistent basis. This is issue #11, and I feel like Bendis is just showing us the onion without revealing the multitude of layers beneath the skin. Few in the business today can handle the group dynamic as well as Bendis.

I wouldn’t try to count the number of characters that had a part in this story. I find the interaction between the two Beasts and the two Icemen interesting. They have similar personalities, but they are not carbon copy, “Xerox”, cut and paste, “Photoshopped” versions of each other. Damn, you have to go through a lot of advances in technology just to use figurative language that everyone can understand, and I left out holograms.

Bendis dropped a bomb on us. Angel is leaving the original team to join the Uncanny X-Men. I didn’t expect any of the original X-Men to leave the group, certainly not this early in the storyline. Mystique is off causing her own brand of mischief. She’s messing with the big boys.

Finally, to get this issue filled with all the uncanny there is, the Uncanny Avengers show up to leave us anticipating the next issue. The action was light, but this was a very interesting story. Bendis is exploring relationships within the X-Men. This pulls you into the story and reveals how the characters have grown over the years.

The art is really good. There are two scenes that really catch the eye, the burning factory and the basketball court at night.

I rate All New X-Men #11 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter.

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