I Reads Thanksgiving 2013

It is November 2013.  Once again, we want to welcome you to I Reads You, a ComicBookBin web publication (www.comicbookbin.com).  We write about the things we read:  mostly comic books, comics, and related books.  Sometimes, we’ll write about or link to other topics:  typically books, politics, and entertainment.

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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.

A Devil and Her Love Song: Back to Yokosuka

I read Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 11 (A Devil and Her Love Song)

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 30 2013

DC COMICS

AUG130228 ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #2 $4.99
AUG130200 AQUAMAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99
JUL130236 BATGIRL TP VOL 02 KNIGHTFALL DESCENDS (N52) $16.99
MAY130216 BATMAN HC VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $24.99
AUG130193 DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN #1 $3.99
JUN130262 DC COMICS ONE MILLION OMNIBUS HC $99.99
JUL130244 DEADSHOT BEGINNINGS TP $14.99
AUG130166 FOREVER EVIL ARGUS #1 $2.99
AUG130265 GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #2 $4.99
JUL130243 JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL TP $14.99
AUG130252 NIGHTWING ANNUAL #1 $4.99
AUG130329 SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 COMBO PACK (MR) $5.99
AUG130325 SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 CVR A (MR) $4.99
AUG130326 SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 CVR B (MR) $4.99
AUG130288 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL #3 $4.99
JUL130227 SUPERMAN ADVENTURES THE MAN OF STEEL TP $9.99
JUL130226 SUPERMAN THE MAN OF STEEL BELIEVE TP $9.99
AUG130271 SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2 $4.99
AUG130273 TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2 $4.99
AUG130313 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS V FOR VENDETTA # 1 (MR) $1.00
AUG130344 VERTIGO RESURRECTED THE EXTREMIST #1 NEW PTG (MR) $7.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JUN130316 INJUSTICE CATWOMAN VS DOOMSDAY 2 PACK AF $29.95
MAY130287 ORANGE LANTERN 1:1 SCALE POWER BATTERY PROP W RING $199.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 30 2013

MARVEL COMICS

AUG130747 AVENGERS #22 INF $3.99
AUG130771 AVENGERS AI #5 $2.99
AUG130883 CABLE AND X-FORCE TP VOL 02 DEAD OR ALIVE $12.99
AUG130811 CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVING LEGEND #2 $3.99
AUG130780 CATACLYSM #0.1 $3.99
AUG130849 DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL #4 $2.99
AUG130757 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #8 INF $3.99
AUG130740 INFINITY #5 $3.99
AUG130896 INHUMANS TP BY RIGHT OF BIRTH $24.99
JUL130693 KICK-ASS 3 #4 (MR) $2.99
AUG130871 MARVEL UNIVERSE THOR DIGEST TP $9.99
AUG130831 PUNISHER TRIAL OF PUNISHER #2 $3.99
AUG130793 SCARLET SPIDER #23 $2.99
AUG130893 SCARLET SPIDER TP VOL 03 BIG LEAGUES $15.99
AUG130787 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #20 $3.99
AUG130806 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP SPECIAL #1 $4.99
AUG130825 THOR CROWN OF FOOLS #1 $3.99
AUG130874 THOR VS THANOS TP $24.99
AUG130887 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES TP DISASSEMBLED $19.99
AUG130783 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #33 $3.99
AUG130854 UNCANNY X-FORCE #13 $3.99
AUG130888 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 07 $19.99
AUG130845 X-MEN BATTLE OF ATOM #2 BOA $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 30 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG130417 DANGER GIRL THE CHASE #2 $3.99
AUG130495 DINOSAURS ATTACK #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL138141 FELDSTEIN MAD LIFE AND FANTASTIC ART HC SGN $125.00
AUG130473 GI JOE #9 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG130471 GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130335 JOE KUBERT TOR ARTIST ED HC PI
AUG130377 KISS KIDS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG130384 MY LITTLE PONY 2013 ANNUAL $7.99
AUG130382 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #12 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG130372 POWERPUFF GIRLS #2 $3.99
AUG130371 SAMURAI JACK CLASSICS TP VOL 01 $19.99
AUG130463 TMNT ONGOING #27 $3.99
AUG130465 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #7 BEBOP & ROCKSTEADY $3.99
AUG130490 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #6 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG130484 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #22 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130326 WILD BLUE YONDER #3 $3.99
JUL130399 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS THIS MEANS WAR MMPB $9.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 30 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG130092 1 FOR 1 BALTIMORE PLAGUE SHIPS $1.00
AUG130063 ASTOUNDING VILLAIN HOUSE ONE SHOT $3.50
JUN130051 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 06 SEARCH PART 3 $10.99
JUN130062 BAD HOUSES TP $19.99
JUL130072 BLOOD BROTHERS #3 $3.99
JUN130063 BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD TP VOL 14 $9.99
AUG130056 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #4 $2.99
JUL130032 CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 25 EXODUS $19.99
AUG130094 CRIMINAL MACABRE EYES OF FRANKENSTEIN #2 $3.99
AUG130105 EC ARCHIVES TALES FROM THE CRYPT HC VOL 04 $49.99
AUG130095 EDGAR ALLAN POES THE RAVEN & RED DEATH ONE SHOT $3.99
AUG130122 GAME OF THRONES CHARACTER MAGNET SET 2 $8.99
AUG130123 GAME OF THRONES SHIELD MAGNET SET $8.99
JUN130064 GANTZ TP VOL 29 (MR) $13.99
AUG130088 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #3 $2.99
AUG130075 KING CONAN HOUR O/T DRAGON #6 $3.50
JUN130012 LAST OF US TP AMERICAN DREAMS $16.99
AUG130085 STAR WARS DARK TIMES SPARK REMAINS #4 $3.50
AUG130065 TRUE LIVES O/T FABULOUS KILLJOYS #5 $3.99