#IReadsYou Review: THE SILVER COIN #2

THE SILVER COIN #2 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Kelly Thompson
ART: Michael Walsh
COLORS: Michael Walsh
LETTERS: Michael Walsh
EDITOR: Chris Hampton
COVER: Michael Walsh
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Tula Lotay
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (May 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

The Silver Coin is created by Michael Walsh, Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky

“Girls of Summer”

The Silver Coin is a new horror comic book anthology and miniseries published by Image Comics.  It is the creation of artist Michael Walsh and writers Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky.  Each issue of this five-issue miniseries will tell a tale of terror that is set in a supernatural world in which the mysterious “Silver Coin” changes the lives of those who take possession of it.  The second issue is written by Kelly Thompson and drawn, colored, and lettered by Michael Walsh.

The Silver Coin #2 (entitled “Girls of Summer”) opens in 1993.  Fiona “Pickle” Watterman is excited about attending a girls' summer camp, especially because she is a fan of slasher horror movies.  Maybe, a killer will attack the camp, and Fiona will be prepared to fend off the killer because of her knowledge of horror movies.

What Fiona is not prepared for is how idyllic the camp is... or for sharing a bunkhouse with a bunch of mean girls (bitches)... or for an encounter with the silver coin.  Now, will Fiona's time at a summer camp become the stuff of horror movie legends?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my review of The Silver Coin #1, I am a big fan of horror comic book anthologies.  That includes everything from the classic EC Comics titles to later titles like DC Comics' Ghosts and House of Mystery, Kitchen Sink Press's Death Rattle, and Approbation Comics' Amour, to name a few.

“Girls of Summer,” the offering in The Silver Coin #2, moves away from classic ghost and monster stories.  It reads like an urban legend about an unwary teen who strays too far from the safe confines and wanders into a dark corner of reality.  Writer Kelly Thompson offers in “Girls of Summer” a story that is like a blend of an episode of “The Twilight Zone” television series and twenty-first century gory horror movies.

I enjoyed the story, “The Ticket,” from the first issue of this series a little more than I do “Girls of Summer.”  This time, the arrival of the cursed silver coin feels a little like an insertion for the sake of the series' title.

However, Michael Walsh's art and graphical storytelling deliver an unsettling tale that captures the awfulness of Fiona's fellow campers and the severe isolation that Fiona feels.  Walsh splashes color like a madman, which revs up the intensity of the second half of “Girls of Summer.  Walsh will certainly make readers pay attention.

The Silver Coin #1 and #2 have made me … hungry for more.  And I still feel very confident in highly recommending this comic book series to you, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic horror comic book anthologies will want to spend The Silver Coin.

B+
7 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/Mister_Walsh
https://michaelwalshcomics.com/
https://twitter.com/zdarsky
http://www.zdars.co/
https://twitter.com/JeffLemire
https://tinyletter.com/JeffLemire
https://twitter.com/edbrisson
http://www.edbrisson.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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

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#IReadsYou Review: THE SILVER COIN #1

THE SILVER COIN #1 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Chip Zdarsky
ART: Michael Walsh
COLORS: Michael Walsh
LETTERS: Michael Walsh
EDITOR: Chris Hampton
COVER: Michael Walsh
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Tula Lotay; Maria Nguyen
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (April 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

The Silver Coin is created by Michael Walsh, Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky

“The Ticket”

The Silver Coin in a new horror comic book anthology and miniseries published by Image Comics.  It is the creation of artist Michael Walsh and writers Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky.  Each issue of this five-issue miniseries will tell a tale of terror that is set in a supernatural world in which the mysterious “Silver Coin” changes the lives of those who take possession of it.  The first issue is written by Zdarsky and drawn, colored, and lettered by Walsh.

The Silver Coin #1 (entitled “The Ticket”) opens in 1978.  Disco is at the height of its power over American pop culture.  Feeling that power is local rock band, the power trio, “Running Red.”  They currently have the seven o'clock spot at “The Dirty Eagle,” a rock club that now caters to the disco crowd.

Ryan, the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Running Red, wants to be more than just the leader of a bar band living on the edge.  However, his band mates, bassist, Joe, and drummer, Ashley, seem happy just playing together.  One day, Ryan discovers a mysterious silver coin, and he begins using it as his guitar pick.  Before they know it, Running Red is no longer a failing rock band, but this sudden change of fortune comes with a cost – a hungry curse.

THE LOWDOWN:  I am a big fan of horror comic book anthologies, which includes, of course, the classic EC Comics titles.  However, I am also a fan of EC's comics inheritors, including Kitchen Sink Press's Death Rattle, DC Comics' Ghosts and House of Mystery, Warren Publishing's Creepy and Eerie, and Approbation Comics' Amour, to name a few.

The Silver Coin reminds me of DC and Warren's 1970s horror comics, especially because of Michael Walsh's ghostly coloring.  His ethereal compositions recall the late master of horror comics, Bernie Wrightson, and Walsh's storytelling is both efficient in its narrative and lavish in its presentation.  Even Walsh's lettering has a horrific lilt, as the fonts chronicle a creeping doom.

Chip Zdarsky, one of the most clever and inventive mainstream comic book writers, offers a standalone story that is complete and delivers the brutal comeuppance of dealing with a cursed object in a single-issue.  Efficient beginning, informative middle, and shocking ending:  we get all this in 22 pages and not in six issues of padded storytelling.

If The Silver Coin #1 is any indication of what the remaining issues will offer, I feel very confident in highly recommending it.  And I want more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic horror comic book anthologies will want to spend The Silver Coin.

A
8 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/Mister_Walsh
https://michaelwalshcomics.com/
https://twitter.com/zdarsky
http://www.zdars.co/
https://twitter.com/JeffLemire
https://tinyletter.com/JeffLemire
https://twitter.com/edbrisson
http://www.edbrisson.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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

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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).

Review: FIREFLY #1 (2018)

FIREFLY No. 1 (2018)
BOOM! Studios – @boomstudios

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Greg Pak
ARTIST: Dan McDaid
COLORS: Marcelo Costa
LETTERS: Jim Campbell
EDITOR: Jeanine Schaefer
COVER: Lee Garbett
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jock; Joe Quinones; Tula Lotay; J.G. Jones; Bill Sienkiewicz; Adam Riches; Diego Galindo
32pp, Colors, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

Firefly created by Joss Whedon

“Firefly” was a science fiction and Western-themed television series created by Joss Whedon.  It was originally broadcast on the Fox Television Network during the 2002-2003 television season, although Fox only televised 11 of the 14 episodes that were produced.

The series was set in the year 2157 in a star system where human immigrants from Earth settled some time in the distant past.  The primary characters are the crew of nine people traveling aboard the “Firefly-class” spaceship named “Serenity.”  The lead character is Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, the owner and captain of the Serenity.  Like his second-in-command, Zoe Alleyne Washburne, Mal is a veteran of the human civil war known as the “Unification War,” fighting on the side of the “Independent Army.”

The other characters are Hoban “Wash” Washburne, Serenity's pilot and Zoe's husband, and Kaywinnet Lee “Kaylee” Frye, the ship's mechanic.  There are also Inara Serra, a “Companion” (a kind of sex-worker) who resides aboard one of Serenity's two shuttles; Derrial Book, a “Shepherd” (equivalent of a pastor); and the mercenary, Jayne Cobb.  The final two passengers are Dr. Simon Tam, a top trauma surgeon; and River Tam, his sister who is a child prodigy who was part of some kind of “Alliance” science experiment.

From 2005 to 2017, Dark Horse Comics produced four miniseries, two one-shots, and one original graphic novel based on the “Firefly” franchise, under the title, “Serenity,” the name of the 2006 film based on the TV series.  BOOM! Studios recently obtained the license to produce comic books based on “Firefly.”

BOOM!'s debut title is the comic book series, Firefly.  It is written by Greg Pak; drawn by Dan McDaid; colored by Marcelo Costa; and lettered by Jim Campbell.  Firefly the comic book 2018 will apparently delve into Mal and Zoe's past in the Unification War (also known as “War of Unification”).

Firefly #1 finds the Serenity suffering from the purchase of bad replacement parts.  Things get worse when the ship is attacked by the federals in the form of an Alliance Army dreadnaught.  Forced to land on a moon named “Bethlehem,” the crew of the Serenity must find jobs that will earn them the one thousand in platinum credits that it will take to buy the new replacement parts that will allow Serenity to return to space.  A new job is the least of their worries, however, as two of the crew members find themselves with high bounties placed on their heads.

I became a huge fan of the “Firefly” TV series after a friend gave me a box-set collection of the series as a gift.  I liked that the show was as much a Western drama as it was a space adventure.  Greg Pak writes in his afterword that he will use this comic book to explore three different sub-genres within the larger Western genre.  Firefly #1 seems to borrow the well-worn Western sub-genre that involves a wagon train of outcasts slash misfits employing “hired guns” to escort them on a perilous journey.

In this case, the “hired guns” are our heroes from the Serenity.  I'll go with this scenario because this Firefly comic book reminds me of the American Western TV series, “Wagon Train” (1957 to 1965).  I am a fan of this mostly black-and-white series, which focused on a “wagon master” and his employees.  Each episode also detailed the trials and tribulations a guest character or characters (usually portrayed by well-know film and television stars of the day).  Elements of Firefly 2018 also remind me of the 1950 John Ford Western film, Wagon Master, which apparently inspired “Wagon Train.”

I like what I have read in this new Firefly comic book, although I will admit that this story is simply a slight variation on familiar television characters and themes in addition to the elements taken from the “Firefly” TV series and the Serenity film.  Much of Dan McDaid's art for Firefly #1 is unattractive, and the characters' faces are “fugly.”  Still, the art is highly functional, from a graphical storytelling point of view, and the coloring and lettering is good.  So let's see where this goes.

[This volume includes an “Afterword” by Greg Pak and short text pieces from Joss Whedon and Dan McDaid.]

7 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.

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Review: THE WILD STORM #1

THE WILD STORM No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ARTIST: Jon Davis-Hunt
COLORS: Ivan Plascencia
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Jon Davis-Hunt
VARIANT COVERS: Tula Lotay; Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2017)

Rated “T+”

“The Wild Storm – Chapter One”

Started by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, WildStorm Productions was one of the founding studios of Image Comics.  The WildStorm Universe, the fictional shared universe of comic books published by WildStorm, debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover dated: August 1992).  I think I loyally enjoyed WildStorm titles for about five years, gradually losing interest as the decade and the 20th century waned.  Jim Lee sold WildStorm Productions and his intellectual properties to DC Comics in 1999, and eventually the WildStorm Universe was folded into the DC Universe (DCU) proper.

It can be argued that the most interesting and perhaps, most influential comic books to come out of the WildStorm Universe were written by Warren Ellis (his run on StormWatch, his creation of The Authority and Planetary).  Now, Ellis is back to reinvent or reset the WildStorm universe – small “u.”  The title that begins the reset is The Wild Storm, written by Ellis; drawn by Jon Davis-Hunt; colored by Ivan Plascencia; and lettered by Simon Bowland.

The Wild Storm #1 opens with the return of Zealot and Voodoo.  What is important, however, is that someone wants to kill Jacob Marlowe, CEO of HALO, the world-changing tech company.  What's up with Angela Spica?  Who wants to kill Marlowe more than Miles Craven of I.O. (International Operations)?  Is it Michael Cray?  Wake the CAT.

I enjoyed Warren Ellis' work for WildStorm (well, except DV8), so I have hopes for The Wild Storm.  Are they high hopes?  I think I'll see how high or if I should levitate those hopes after each issue.  Ellis says that you do not have to have read earlier WildStorm comic books to understand The Wild Storm.  Still, I think 75 percent of the thrill of The Wild Storm is being familiar with these characters; how else can you really enjoy the new riffs on these semi-old melodies?

I like the clean, modern line of artist Jon Davis-Hunt.  It reminds me of the artists who have drawn Marvel's Iron Man comic books over the past few years.  There is a hint of realism mixed with earthiness and futurism in Davis-Hunt's compositions in this first issue.  So besides Ellis' story, I really want to see what Davis-Hunt does from here on out.

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 syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL #1

SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL No. 1
DC COMICS/Young Animal – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Cecil Castellucci
ART: Marley Zarcone
COLORS: Kelly Fitzpatrick
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
COVER: Becky Cloonan
VARIANT COVERS: Duncan Fegredo; Tula Lotay
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Mature Readers

Shade created by Steve Ditko

“Earth Girl Made Easy” Chapter 1: “Running Off to the Great Blue”

Shade is a weird DC Comics character created by Steve Ditko that first appeared in the comic book, Shade the Changing Man #1 (cover dated:  June 1977).  The series focused on Rac Shade, a secret agent from a world in another dimension who comes to clear his name of a treason charge which carries a death sentence.  Over the decades since the character first appeared, Shade has been reworked and re-imagined by other comics creators.

Now, Shade the Changing Man gets the “Young Animal” treatment and becomes Shade the Changing Girl in a new comic book series from DC Comic's Young Animal imprint.  The comic book is written by novelist Cecil Castellucci; drawn by Marley Zarcone; colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick; and colored by Saida Temofonte.

Shade the Changing Girl #1 (“Running Off to the Great Blue”) opens in the hospital room of Megan Boyer, a brain-dead teenage girl.  However, an alien teen girl, an avian named Loma Shade, decides to take possession of Megan's body.  Not everyone, however, is happy to see the 16-year-old Megan back on her feet.  Meanwhile, on Loma's home world of Meta, someone wants the “Madness Vest” found.

Like Doom Patrol, the first Young Animal title to hit comic book stories, Shade the Changing Girl's inaugural first issue is about introduction, teasing, and some vagueness.  However, writer Cecil Castellucci grounds Shade the Changing Girl #1 with some edgy, background supporting character drama.  Castellucci writes “Young Adult” novels, but she is known in comic books for her superb, two-volume graphic novel series, The P.L.A.I.N. Janes, so she knows her way around the dark side of teen politics and high school society.

Shade the Changing Girl artist Marley Zarcone offers some of the most imaginative comic book art that I have seen in quite awhile in mainstream superhero comic books.  Vivid and trippy, Zarcone's graphical storytelling goes afar, but not so far that the story turns into a shallow mess of surrealism right out of high school poet's notebook.  I look forward to future issues.

---------------
This comic book contains the comics short story, “Cryll's Big Surprise” by Natalia Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez with Saida Temofonte and Laura Allred.]

Meanwhile, Gilbert and Natalia Hernandez offer a cute and clever back-up story.  I hope this is not a one-off for this team.

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.

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Review: BLACK WIDOW #1

BLACK WIDOW No. 1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Chris Samnee and Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Stephanie Hans; Tula Lotay; Phil Noto; Kevin Wada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

Black Widow is a Marvel Comics female superhero.  She was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck and first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (cover dated: April 1964).  When she was first introduced, Black Widow was Natasha Romanova, a Russian spy who did not wear a superhero costume.  She was an antagonist of Iron Man, but later defected to the United States, where she became an agent of the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and a member of the Avengers, becoming, of course, a superhero.

The All-New, All-Different Marvel presents a new comic book featuring Ms. Romanova, entitled (of course), Black Widow.  The series is written by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid; drawn by Samnee; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Black Widow #1 opens with the title character fighting her way through an office section of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.  Black Widow has gone rogue and is fighting former colleagues.  She is now S.H.I.E.L.D. public enemy #1.  Why?

I have never read a single issue of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's Eisner Award-winning run on Daredevil, but I keep planning on doing so.  I did read their thrilling IDW Publishing miniseries, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, which I quite enjoyed (Encore! Encore!).

I'm curious about Black Widow because I am a fan of actress Scarlett Johanson's portrayal of the character in several Marvel Studio films.  So now I'm all like, let's read some Black Widow comics.  Well, this new Black Widow #1 is comprised of a long action sequence.  It is neither imaginative nor thrilling.  At the end of the book, Waid, Samnee, and editor Jake Thomas swear that we are in for something really good.  Just wait until the next issue... or the one after that... or the one after that...  [Just wait for the trade!]

This first issue is but a taste... OK.  So I'll give Black Widow #1 a grade of “B-” with the hope of a better grade on layaway.

B-

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.

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Review: BLACK CANARY #1

BLACK CANARY (2015) #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brenden Fletcher
ART: Annie Wu
COLORS: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Annie Wu
VARIANT COVERS: Tula Lotay
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“The Most Dangerous Band in America”

DC Comics' superhero, Black Canary, first appeared in what is known as the “Golden Age” of comic books.  She was created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino and debuted in Flash Comics #86 (cover date:  August 1947).  Black Canary was one of DC Comics' earliest female superheroes.

Her alter-ego was Dinah Drake, and she was a member of and appeared in both the Justice Society of America and Justice League of America comic books.  Eventually, Dinah Drake gave way to a younger version of the character, Dinah Laurel Lance (who was at one time depicted as the daughter of Dinah Drake).  Dinah Lance's super-power is the “Canary Cry,” a high-pitched sonic scream that can shatter objects and incapacitate enemies, and she is also a world-class martial artist.

As part of DC Comics' new publishing initiative, “DC You,” Lance is the star of a new comic book entitled Black Canary.  It is written by Brenden Fletcher, drawn by Annie Wu, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Steve Wands.

When Black Canary #1 (“The Most Dangerous Band in America”) opens, Dinah is the lead singer of a four-piece band called “Black Canary.”  On keys is Paloma Terrific.  Lord Byron pounds the drum kit.  The “silent wunderkind,” Ditto, is the guitarist.  Talk about kick out the jams, mutha...., Black Canary is literally tearing up the venues in which her band plays.  She is a trouble magnet, but what she discovers about her band will change all their lives.

The snarky part of me thinks that this Black Canary comic book won't last more than 12 issues; actually, I don't think that it will go past eight issues.  This is not a bad comic book, but, at this point, its uniqueness may not save it.  Black Canary is a like a shallow Vertigo Comics spin on Eisner Award winner Jaime Hernandez's classic “Lucas” comics in the long-running alt-comix title, Love and Rockets.  Hernandez was able to convey the heady noise-making of punk rock in both the static images and graphical language of comic books.  Black Canary doesn't bring the noise.

Black Canary has potential, but sometimes, quirky and interesting isn't enough.  Black Canary needs a great second issue to suggest a long run.  Hell, a third and fourth great issue wouldn't hurt.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 1, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

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MAY150459    AIRBOY #2 (MR)    $2.99
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APR150633    DEADLY CLASS #14 (MR)    $3.50
MAY150471    HUMANS #6 (MR)    $2.99
MAR150552    IMPALER TP TWO VOLUME SET (MR)    $19.99
MAY150472    JUPITERS CIRCLE #4 (MR)    $3.50
APR158000    JUPITERS CIRCLE #4 CVR B QUITELY CHARACTER DESIGN (MR)    $3.50
MAY150473    MINIMUM WAGE SO MANY BAD DECISIONS #3 (MR)    $3.99
MAY150474    NAILBITER #14 (MR)    $2.99
MAY150475    NO MERCY #4    $2.99
MAY150476    ODDLY NORMAL #8 CVR A FRAMPTON    $2.99
MAY150477    ODDLY NORMAL #8 CVR B SCHOENING    $2.99
APR150662    OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #10 (MR)    $2.99
FEB150507    PUNKS THE COMIC CBLDF SPEC    $4.99
APR150669    SATELLITE SAM #15 (MR)    $3.50
APR158642    SONS OF THE DEVIL #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $2.99
MAY150478    SUPREME BLUE ROSE TP (MR)    $14.99
MAY150480    WE STAND ON GUARD #1 (MR)    $2.99
MAY150481    WICKED & DIVINE #12 (MR)    $3.50
MAR158209    WICKED & DIVINE #12 CVR B BROWN (MR)    $3.50
APR150619    WICKED & DIVINE TP VOL 02 FANDEMONIUM (MR)    $14.99
APR150688    ZERO #18 CVR A LOTAY & MULLER (MR)    $2.99
APR150689    ZERO #18 CVR B MULLER (MR)    $2.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for April 8, 2015

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB150058     ABE SAPIEN #22     $3.50
FEB150049     ITTY BITTY COMICS GRIMMISS ISLAND #2     $2.99
FEB150008     REBELS #1     $3.99
FEB150034     X #24 (MR)     $2.99