Midnight Secretary: Having a Baby

I read Midnight Secretary, Vol. 6

I posted a review at ComicBookBin, which is calling for donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: SAVAGE HULK #1

SAVAGE HULK #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER/PENCILS: Alan Davis
INKS: Mark Farmer
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: VC’s Clayton Cowles
COVER: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer with Val Staples
VARIANT COVER: John Cassaday with Paul Mounts; Alex Ross
28pp, Color, $3.99 (August 2014)

Rated T+

“The Man Within”

Savage Hulk is a new comic book starring one of Marvel Comics’ seminal characters, the Hulk.  Like Savage Wolverine did with Wolverine, Savage Hulk will feature the Hulk in standalone story arcs produced by some of Marvel’s top creative talent.  […big names, super stars and break out talent…” says Savage Hulk editor Mark Paniccia]

Savage Hulk’s first story arc is being produced by a comics creator who truly can be called a “superstar,” veteran writer, artist, and writer/artist, the great Alan Davis.  Davis is writing and penciling Savage Hulk with his longtime collaborator, Mark Farmer, inking his pencils.  To start things off with an incredible Hulk bang, Davis is teaming the Hulk with a group of characters that are familiar to Davis, the X-Men.  Davis is essentially writing a sequel to X-Men #66 (cover dated:  March 1970), which featured the original X-Men against the Hulk.

Savage Hulk #1 (“The Man Within”) recaps a battle between the Hulk and the X-Men: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, and Iceman.  The X-Men needed the help of Bruce Banner, the Hulk’s alter ego, to bring their teacher and leader, Professor Charles Xavier out of a coma.  They succeed in getting a device from Banner that helps Xavier; now, the Professor wants to return the favor and help Banner.

Joined by Polaris and Havok, the X-Men return to the last place they saw Banner.  However, long-time Hulk nemesis, The Leader, has been monitoring the actions of Hulk and the X-Men.  Now, he is ready to launch his latest diabolical scheme against the Savage Hulk.

My review of Savage Hulk #1 is this:  I like Alan Davis.  I enjoy the clean, straight-forward way that Davis tells superhero stories with a mix of soap opera and the kind of weird fantasy that is unique to comic books.  Thus, I thoroughly enjoyed Davis’ Savage Hulk #1.  I’m ready for the next issue, and I wish someone at Marvel Comics would encourage Davis to do more comics starring the original X-Men.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Happy Marriage?!: My/Your Cheating Heart

I read Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 6

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is calling for donations. Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: DETECTIVE COMICS #30

DETECTIVE COMICS #30
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
ARTIST: Francis Manapul
COLORS: Brian Buccellato
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Francis Manapul
VARIANT COVER: Hermann Mejia
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated T

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Icarus Part One
As a writer-artist duo, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato launched The New 52 version of the Flash comic book series.  Now, they are the new creative team on Detective Comics.  Writer/artist Manapul and writer/colorist Buccellato start their run on the series with what looks to be a potent story arc, entitled Icarus.

Detective Comics #30 (Icarus Part One) finds Batman breaking up a kidnapping ring in Gotham City’s Chinatown.  Later, Bruce Wayne considers entering into a partnership with Elena Aquila and her Aquila Healthy Families Initiative.  That real estate development deal doesn’t sit well with everyone, including local politicians and a vicious crime boss known as “The Squid.”

I only read Flash #1 of The New 52 Flash series, but I really liked it and plan on returning to it and reading at least the Manapul-Buccellato issues.  If issue Detective Comics #30 is a good indication, this team’s run on this seminal Batman comic book series will be a good one.

I am especially impressed by Manapul’s imaginative and creative page design (especially the bottom third of Page 9 of the story).  This story arc is intriguing, made even more so by the coloring, which gives an added jolt of electricity that made me anticipate each page.  I’m ready to read issue #31 to get a better feel for the series, but right now, I like this enough to give it a high grade.

A-

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 July 2, 2014

DC COMICS

JAN140348     ABSOLUTE BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC     $99.99
MAY140220     ACTION COMICS #33 (DOOMED)     $3.99
MAY140188     AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS #4     $2.99
MAY140352     BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #2     $2.99
MAY140225     BATMAN ETERNAL #13     $2.99
APR140201     BATMAN SUPERMAN #12     $3.99
APR140204     BATMAN SUPERMAN #12 COMBO PACK     $4.99
MAY140255     BATWING #33     $2.99
APR140271     CINDER & ASHE TP     $14.99
MAY140204     EARTH 2 #25 (NOTE PRICE)     $3.99
MAY140402     FAIREST #27 (MR)     $2.99
MAY140192     GREEN ARROW #33     $2.99
MAY140258     GREEN LANTERN #33 (UPRISING)     $2.99
MAY140260     GREEN LANTERN #33 COMBO PACK (UPRISING)     $3.99
APR140263     GREEN LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 04 REBUILD (N52)     $16.99
APR140264     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 03 LOVE & DEATH (N52)     $16.99
APR140244     HARLAN ELLISONS 7 AGAINST CHAOS TP     $16.99
APR148370     HARLEY QUINN #2 4TH PTG     $2.99
MAY140405     HINTERKIND #9 (MR)     $2.99
MAY140193     JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #8     $2.99
MAY140181     NEW 52 FUTURES END #9 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
MAY140389     SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #5     $2.99
APR140274     SUPERBOY TP VOL 04 BLOOD AND STEEL (N52)     $16.99
APR148371     SUPERMAN #31 2ND PTG (DOOMED)     $2.99
DEC130238     SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #7     $3.99
DEC130242     SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #7 COMBO PACK     $4.99
MAY140267     SWAMP THING #33     $2.99
MAY140391     TINY TITANS RETURN TO THE TREEHOUSE #2     $2.99
MAY140199     TRINITY OF SIN PHANTOM STRANGER #21     $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR140312     ARKHAM ASYLUM JOKER HARLEY BATMAN SCARECROW AF 4 PK     $59.95
JAN140396     DC COMICS NEW 52 EARTH 2 WONDER WOMAN AF     $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 2, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

MAY140819     100TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 FANTASTIC FOUR     $3.99
MAY140909     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #10     $3.99
APR148272     AVENGERS #29 2ND PTG YU VAR SIN     $4.99
APR148314     AVENGERS #30 2ND PTG YU VAR SIN     $3.99
MAY140843     BLACK WIDOW #8     $3.99
MAY140840     CAPTAIN AMERICA #22     $3.99
MAY140846     DAREDEVIL #0.1     $4.99
FEB140836     DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID HC VOL 03     $39.99
APR148275     DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE #3 2ND PTG FABRY VAR     $3.99
MAY140886     DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #1     $3.99
MAY140796     FIGMENT #2     $3.99
MAY140848     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY GALAXYS MOST WANTED #1     $3.99
FEB140829     INFINITY GAUNTLET OMNIBUS HC PEREZ CVR     $125.00
MAY140857     IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #4     $3.99
MAY140804     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #1 ANMN     $3.99
APR148273     MAGNETO #3 2ND PTG SHALVEY VAR ANMN     $3.99
MAY140902     MAGNETO #6     $3.99
MAR140774     MARVELS GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PRELUDE TP     $14.99
MAY140830     MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #3     $3.99
MAY140875     MIRACLEMAN #8     $4.99
MAY140862     MOON KNIGHT #5     $3.99
APR148274     MS MARVEL #3 2ND PTG MCKELVIE VAR ANMN     $2.99
MAY140866     NEW WARRIORS #7     $3.99
MAY140764     ORIGINAL SIN #5     $3.99
APR140743     POWERS HC VOL 06 DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (MR)     $34.99
MAY140872     PUNISHER #8     $3.99
MAY140797     ROCKET RACCOON #1 ANMN     $3.99
MAR140758     SAVAGE WOLVERINE PREM HC VOL 03 WRATH     $24.99
FEB140838     THANOS RISING HC     $24.99
MAY140873     THOR GOD OF THUNDER #24     $3.99
APR140778     UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 02 BROKEN     $19.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for July 2, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

APR140359     BEN 10 CLASSICS TP VOL 02 BEN A PLEASURE     $17.99
MAY140483     DEXTERS LABORATORY #4     $3.99
APR140351     DEXTERS LABORATORY CLASSICS TP VOL 01     $19.99
MAY140471     GI JOE TP VOL 03 SIRENS SONG     $17.99
MAY140557     INDESTRUCTIBLE #7     $3.99
APR140457     INDESTRUCTIBLE TP VOL 01     $14.99
MAR140464     LOAC ESSENTIALS HC VOL 05 BUNGLE FAMILY 1930     $24.99
MAY140548     LOCKE & KEY CROWN OF SHADOWS 100 PENNY PRESS ED #1     $1.00
MAR140355     MAXX MAXXIMIZED HC VOL 01     $21.99
MAY140521     ROGUE TROOPER CLASSICS #3     $3.99
MAY140545     STAR MAGE #4     $3.99
APR140444     THUNDER AGENTS ONGOING TP VOL 02     $17.99
MAR140364     TRIBES DOG YEARS SPECIAL ED HC     $39.99
APR148243     WEIRD LOVE #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
MAY140541     WEIRD LOVE #2     $3.99
MAR140407     X-FILES CONSPIRACY HC     $24.99