Sweet Rein: Akira the Dark Santa

I read Sweet Rein, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (where I have an Indiegogo campaign).

I Reads You Launches Indiegogo Campaign for "Grumble #2"

I guess I need to post more about my comic book here:

Archie Andrews to Get Cap in Ass - The Official Announcement

Legendary Comic Book Character Archie Andrews Dies in July

Future “Life with Archie” storyline reveals redheaded icon’s heroic final moments

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archie Comics, the acclaimed and bestselling comic book publisher that is home to some of the best-known pop culture creations in the world, including Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Josie & The Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the hit AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE series, announced the unthinkable today: Legendary comic book character Archie Andrews will die to conclude the hit LIFE WITH ARCHIE comic series.

The iconic comic book character, beloved by millions around the globe for over 70 years, will sacrifice himself heroically while saving the life of a friend in the pages of July’s LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36, the final issue in the flash-forward series, which spotlights Archie’s adventures after high school and college.

“We’ve been building up to this moment since we launched LIFE WITH ARCHIE five years ago, and knew that any book that was telling the story of Archie’s life as an adult had to also show his final moment,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “Archie has and always will represent the best in all of us—he’s a hero, good-hearted, humble and inherently honorable. This story is going to inspire a wide range of reactions because we all feel so close to Archie. Fans will laugh, cry, jump off the edge of their seats and hopefully understand why this comic will go down as one of the most important moments in Archie’s entire history. It’s the biggest story we’ve ever done, and we’re supremely proud of it.”

The story will be available in multiple formats, including an extra-large magazine-size LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36, two comic-sized issues—LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36 and #37—and a trade paperback collecting the entire story, written by regular LIFE WITH ARCHIE writer Paul Kupperberg, with art by Pat & Tim Kennedy and Fernando Ruiz.

While LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36 shows readers Archie’s final moments, #37 leaps a year into the future, showcasing how the remaining members of the Riverdale gang—including Jughead, Betty & Veronica and Reggie—have honored the legacy of their dear friend. Both stories will be collected in the double-sized LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36 magazine and upcoming trade paperback.

In addition to the acclaimed regular LIFE WITH ARCHIE creative team, the two comic book issues—sold exclusively at comic shops in July—will feature a pantheon of artistic luminaries contributing covers to the historic issue, including Francesco Francavilla, Fiona Staples, Ramon Perez, Walt Simonson, Jill Thompson, Mike Allred, Cliff Chiang, Adam Hughes, Tommy Lee Edwards and Alex Ross.

ABOUT ARCHIE COMICS:
Archie Comics is the leading mass market comic book publisher in the world and the home to a wide array of the most popular humor, action-adventure and superhero characters in entertainment, including Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica, Reggie, Kevin Keller, Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Afterlife With Archie, The Fox, The New Crusaders, The Shield, Li’l Jinx and many more. Archie Comics have sold 2 billion comics worldwide and are published around the world in a number of languages. In addition to comics, Archie characters have been featured prominently in animation, television, film and music.

I Reads You Review: MOON KNIGHT #1

MOON KNIGHT (2014) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ARTIST/COVER: Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
VARIANT COVERS: Adi Granov; Bill Sienkiewicz; Skottie Young; Katie Cook; Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2014)

Moon Knight is a Marvel Comics superhero character.  Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 (cover dated: August 1975).

Moon Knight is Marc Spector an American-born mercenary who dies in Egypt, under the statue of Khonshu, an ancient Egyptian moon god.  Khonshu appears to Spector and offers him a second chance at life.  After he awakens, Spector wraps himself with the silver shroud that covers Khonshu’s statue, turning it into a silver cloaked costume, becoming the Moon Knight.  A superb athlete and master of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, Spector is also a skilled acrobat, gymnast, detective, marksman, and is an aviator who uses traditional and sophisticated weaponry.  In short, Moon Knight is Marvel Comics’ version of Batman.

It is easy to lose track of all the iterations of a Moon Knight comic book series that Marvel has published over the last four decades.  The latest Moon Knight title is part of Marvel Comics’ “All-New Marvel NOW!” initiative.  This 2014 launch of Moon Knight is written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Declan Shalvey with colors by Jordie Bellaire.

Moon Knight #1 finds Moon Knight back in New York City.  He apparently lost his mind, and perhaps, he is back to being normal – whatever that may be for Marc Spector-Moon Knight (MK for short).  The policeman, Detective Flint, who wants MK’s help, calls him “Mister Knight,” to keep MK from being associated with the dangerous vigilante he was.  MK or Mister Knight: by any name, can he stop a slasher killer who is good, albeit somewhat clumsy, at what he does?

I just read Moon Knight #1.  Interesting is one word that I can use to describe what I just read.  I’m curious, but it is hard to pass judgment on a new series in which the writer decompresses a short story about a not particularly interesting serial killer and kooky costumed hero into a full-length story about a not particularly interesting serial killer and kooky costumed hero.

I have heard rumblings of Warren Ellis’ Moon Knight being similar to Warren Ellis’ Planetary.  If you scratch hard enough, you may be able to pretend that Moon Knight is a scratch-and-sniff comic book ever so slightly oozing the leftover essence of the great Planetary… maybe.

Declan Shalvey is supposed to be some up and coming hotshot artist; oh, really?  And Jordie Bellaire has done better work.  About this new Moon Knight:  we’ll see.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 9 2014

DC COMICS

JAN140371 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO TP (MR) $16.99
FEB140283 ASTRO CITY #11 $3.99
JAN140374 ASTRO CITY SHINING STARS TP $16.99
DEC130338 ASTRO CITY THROUGH OPEN DOORS HC $24.99
FEB140213 BATGIRL #30 $2.99
FEB140140 BATMAN ETERNAL #1 $2.99
FEB140284 COFFIN HILL #7 (MR) $2.99
FEB140168 CONSTANTINE #13 $2.99
DEC130299 EARTH 2 HC VOL 03 BATTLE CRY (N52) $22.99
JAN140344 EARTH 2 TP VOL 02 THE TOWER OF FATE (N52) $16.99
FEB140290 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #9 (MR) $2.99
FEB140223 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30 $2.99
JAN140383 JONAH HEX SHADOWS WEST TP (MR) $24.99
FEB140169 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #5 $2.99
FEB140294 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #3 (MR) $2.99
FEB140274 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #44 $2.99
FEB140193 SUPERBOY #30 $2.99
FEB140186 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 (DOOMED) $3.99
FEB140188 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 COMBO PACK (DOOMED) $4.99
FEB140177 WORLDS FINEST #22 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

SEP130324 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS POWER RING AF $24.95
SEP130323 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS SUPERWOMAN AF $24.95
SEP130325 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ULTRAMAN AF $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 9 2014

MARVEL COMICS

FEB140700 ALL NEW DOOP #1 ANMN $3.99
FEB140867 ALL NEW DOOP #1 BY ALLRED POSTER $8.99
FEB140751 ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140776 ALL NEW ULTIMATES #1 $3.99
FEB140816 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #6 $3.99
FEB140817 ALL NEW X-MEN #25 $4.99
FEB140866 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 75TH ANNIV BY ROSS POSTER $8.99
FEB140865 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 BY RAMOS POSTER $8.99
JAN140806 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 PRELUDE TP $14.99
FEB140789 AVENGERS AI #11 $2.99
JAN140797 AVENGERS TP VOL 02 LAST WHITE EVENT $19.99
FEB140712 AVENGERS UNDERCOVER #2 ANMN $2.99
JAN140787 CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 03 LOOSE NUKE $24.99
FEB140725 CAPTAIN MARVEL #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140702 DAREDEVIL #1.50 $4.99
JAN140810 DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 05 $16.99
JAN140809 DAREDEVIL EPIC COLLECTION TP FALL FROM GRACE $44.99
FEB140735 DEADPOOL #27 ANMN $9.99
NOV130709 INFINITY COMPANION HC $99.99
FEB140673 IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #1 ANMN $3.99
FEB140709 IRON MAN #24 ANMN $3.99
NOV130702 KICK-ASS 3 #7 (MR) $3.99
FEB140864 MARVEL 75TH ANNIV BY DEODATO OVERSIZED POSTER $34.99
FEB140804 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #7 SYU $2.99
DEC130767 MARVEL UNIVERSE HULK AGENTS OF SMASH DIGEST TP $9.99
FEB140782 MIGHTY AVENGERS #9 $3.99
FEB140691 NIGHTCRAWLER #1 $3.99
FEB140718 SECRET AVENGERS #2 ANMN $3.99
JAN140765 SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #11 $3.99
FEB140800 THUNDERBOLTS #24 $2.99
FEB140761 WHAT IF AGE OF ULTRON #2 $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for April 9 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB140457 DEADWORLD RESTORATION #5 $3.99
FEB140342 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE DISAVOWED TP VOL 03 $19.99
FEB140353 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #14 $3.99
FEB140466 INDESTRUCTIBLE #5 $3.99
FEB140426 JUDGE DREDD #18 $3.99
FEB140432 MAXX MAXXIMIZED #6 $3.99
FEB140408 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #4 $3.99
FEB140389 POWERPUFF GIRLS #8 $3.99
FEB140399 ROCKY & BULLWINKLE #2 $3.99
FEB140392 SAMURAI JACK #7 $3.99
FEB140381 TMNT COLOR CLASSICS SERIES 2 #6 $3.99
JAN140434 TRIPLE HELIX TP $17.99