DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for November 29, 2022

DC COMICS:

Aquamen TP, $16.99
Batgirls 2022 Annual #1 (Cover A Robbi Rodriguez), $5.99
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Adrian Gutierrez), $3.99
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Cully Hamner Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Rafael Albuquerque Card Stock Variant), AR
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover D David Marquez Card Stock Variant), AR
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Spanish Language Version), AR
Blue Beetle Graduation Day #1 (Of 6)(Cover F Adrian Gutierrez Foil Card Stock Variant), AR
DC Connect #31, AR
DC’s Grifter Got Run Over By A Reindeer #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Carlos D’Anda), $9.99
Detective Comics 2022 Annual #1 (Cover A Evan Cagle), $5.99
Justice Society Of America #1 (Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99
Justice Society Of America #1 (Cover B Yanick Paquette Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Justice Society Of America #1 (Cover C Joe Quinones ’90s Cover Month Foil Multi-Level Embossed Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Justice Society Of America #1 (Cover D Jerry Ordway Card Stock Variant), AR
Justice Society Of America #1 (Cover E Steve Lieber Card Stock Variant), AR
Nightwing 2022 Annual #1 (Cover A Eduardo Pansica & Julio Ferreira), $5.99
Nightwing 2022 Annual #1 (Cover B Bruno Redondo Design Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Nubia And The Justice League Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Travis Moore), $5.99
Nubia And The Justice League Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Mateus Manhanini Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Nubia And The Justice League Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Joshua Sway Swaby Nubia 50th Anniversary Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Nubia And The Justice League Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Travis Moore Foil Card Stock Variant), AR
Superman Kal-El Returns Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Dan Mora)(Dark Crisis), $5.99
Superman Kal-El Returns Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Travis Moore Card Stock Variant)(Dark Crisis), $6.99
Superman Kal-El Returns Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Mario Fox Foccillo Card Stock Variant)(Dark Crisis), AR
Superman Kal-El Returns Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Dan Mora DC Spawn Card Stock Variant), AR
Superman Son Of Kal-El Volume 2 HC, $24.99
Superman The Golden Age Omnibus Volume 7 HC, $150.00
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Jim Lee), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Sozomaika), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Bryan Hitch), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Joshua Middleton), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover E J. Scott Campbell), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover F Lee Bermejo), $7.99
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover G Jeff Spokes Glow-In-The-Dark Variant), AR
Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover H Sozomaika Foil Variant), AR
World Of Krypton TP, $16.99

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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: THE WILD STORM: Michael Cray #1

THE WILD STORM: MICHAEL CRAY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Warren Ellis
WRITER: Bryan Hill
PENCILS: N. Steven Harris
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Steve Buccellato
VARIANT COVER: Gene Ha
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+”

Michael Cray created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi

“Michael Cray – Chapter One”

Started by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, WildStorm Productions was one of the founding studios of Image Comics.  The WildStorm Universe was the fictional shared universe of comic books published by WildStorm and debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover dated: August 1992).

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 came after that sale.  Those books were written by Warren Ellis (StormWatch, The Authority and Planetary).  Ellis is currently relaunching the characters, concepts, story lines, etc. of the Wildstorm Universe in his comic book, The Wild Storm, with artist Jon Davis-Hunt.

The first solo spin off series in the relaunch of “The Wild Storm” is The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  It is written by Bryan Hill with Warren Ellis contributing story.  The series is drawn by N. Steven Harris (pencils) and Dexter Vines (inks); colored by Steve Buccellato; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  Michael Cray also known as the professional assassin, Deathblow, first appeared in the comic book, Darker Image #1 (cover dated: March 1993).

Michael Cray seeks revenge against International Operations (I.O.) for the death sentence with which its has basically trapped him.  The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 finds Cray with an offer of help.  Christine Trelane will give him support, resources, medical aid, and a home, but she has targets that she want Cray to take out.  It starts with that sociopath Silicon Valley billionaire, Oliver Queen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  One reason is that in terms of story pacing and in graphical style, Michael Cray is like The Wild Storm comic book.  Writer Bryan Hill writes a script that allows the story to breathe, which in turns allows the reader to enjoy the surprises and shocks and the edginess the script delivers.  Just the Oliver Queen segments are quite enjoyable and enjoyably tart.

N. Steven Harris' compositions and the sharp inking Dexter Vines lays on them are similar to Jon Davis-Hunt's clean drawing style in The Wild Storm.  Harris and Vines deliver good storytelling while graphically tying their work to Ellis and Davis-Hunt's flagship title.  I like The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 and will be back for more.

A
8 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 syndication rights and fees.

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