Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Review: THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #2

THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #2 (OF 12)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
ART: Neal Adams
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Kenneth Rocafort
VARIANT COVER: Neal Adams with Tim Shinn
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2017)

Rated “T” for Teen

Kamandi created by Jack Kirby

“Nuclear Roar!”

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book created by writer-artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The series ran from 1972 to 1978, and starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future.  In this time, humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization.  In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.

The world of Kamandi returns in the new DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists.  Each issue will end with an cliffhanger.  The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger left behind by the previous creative team, before creating their own story and cliffhanger, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on.  The second issue of The Kamandi Challenge is written by Peter J. Tomasi; drawn by Neal Adams; colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Kamandi Challenge #2 (“Nuclear Roar”) finds Kamandi in Tiger City, where the great leader, Lord Caesar, is apparently about to activate a nuclear warhead.  None of the man-animals seem interested in Kamandi's warnings about the weapon, but no one expects a kind of Trojan horse.  Also, a unique Kirby creation makes an appearance, and it still (shockingly) works.

“Nuclear War” follows the cliffhanger that ended issue #1's “K -- is for 'Kill'!”  Simply put, The Kamandi Challenge #2 is a fun read, but lacks the punch of either of the two stories published in The Kamandi Challenge #1.  I like Neal Adams' art here; it is the best of his recent work that I have seen.  The compositions are big and capture the craziness and epic scale of Jack Kirby in his 1970s prime.

The story, however, reflects the weakness of a gimmick series like The Kamandi Challenge.  In coming up with a new chapter by starting from some other writer's previous chapter can be treacherous.  Even if a writer comes up with a way to resolve the previous writer's cliffhanger, the rest of his own story can meander or seem like filler as the writer tries to do his “own thing.”  That is what happens with “Nuclear Roar;” much of it seems like filler on the way to a cliffhanger ending.

I'm still going to keep reading, though.

B

[Afterword by Dan Abnett]

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Review: ROCKET #1

ROCKET No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Al Ewing
ARTIST: Adam Gorham
COLORS: Michael Garland
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
COVER: Mike Mayhew
VARIANT COVERS: Tim Bradstreet; Joe Jusko; David Mack
28pp, Color, $3.99 (July 2017)

Rocket Raccoon created by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen

Rated T+

“The Blue River Score” Part 1: “The Damsel”

Rocket Raccoon is a Marvel Comics space-based character created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Keith Giffen.  The character first appeared in Marvel Preview #7 (cover dated:  Summer 1976), and received a snazzy makeover in 2008, courtesy of writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.  Rocket Raccoon, or simply “Rocket” is verbose, proactive, and doesn't mind zapping a ray blast in sentient ass.

Rocket Raccoon is the star of his third comic book series, entitled Rocket.  It is written by Al Ewing; drawn by Adam Gorham; colored by Michael Garland; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.

Rocket #1 (“The Damsel”) finds Rocket drowning his sorrows at a bar on Digriz.  Suddenly, in walks Otta Spice, the former female-in-his-life.  She left him, but now, she is back because she needs him.  He does not want to help her, but he will – even if it is mission impossible.

Back in 2014, when I read Rocket Raccoon #1 by Skottie Young, I did not like the first 11 pages.  However, the second half of that comic book was a blast.  I was hoping for something like that with Rocket #1, but it didn't happen.  Rocket #1 is a poor comic book.

Marvel Comics currently has a #1 issue problem, and has for the last few years.  There are too many of them, especially when it comes to Guardians of the Galaxy.  I know that Marvel is merely trying to tap into the sales potential of a hot media property, following the success of the 2014 film, Guardians of the Galaxy, but the number of new titles related to this property seems like early 1990s Marvel overkill.  Rocket #1 is an example of a comic book that is either not ready for release or simply should not be published.  Rocket #1 is only a little better than recent Marvel #1 issues for Kingpin and Bullseye, which were crummy comics.

I like Mike Mayhew's cover art, and Adam Gorham's interior art is just right... for a better humor comic book than Rocket.

C-

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, June 4, 2018

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for June 6, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

FEB181215    ABOUT BETTYS BOOB HC    $29.99
APR181092    GARFIELD HOMECOMING #1    $3.99
MAR188801    GARFIELD HOMECOMING #1 FOC SAKAI INCV    $3.99
APR181139    GIANT DAYS #39    $3.99
APR181100    GO GO POWER RANGERS #10 MAIN & MIX SG    $3.99
APR181101    GO GO POWER RANGERS #10 SUBSCRIPTION MOK VAR SG    $3.99
FEB181235    LUMBERJANES TO MAX ED HC VOL 04    $39.99
FEB181205    PLANET OF THE APES ADULT COLORING BOOK SC    $16.99
APR181141    ROCKOS MODERN LIFE #5    $3.99
APR181142    ROCKOS MODERN LIFE #5 SUBSCRIPTIONS VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 6, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR180026    DOCTOR STAR & KINGDOM LOST TOMORROWS #4 MAIN CVR    $3.99
APR180027    DOCTOR STAR & KINGDOM LOST TOMORROWS #4 VAR WU CVR    $3.99
APR180053    HALO COLLATERAL DAMAGE #1 (OF 3)    $3.99
FEB180039    HELLBOY AND THE BPRD 1955 TP    $19.99
JAN180108    JENNY FINN HC (MR)    $17.99
APR180069    KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB180065    MICHAEL CHABON ESCAPIST PULSE POUNDING THRILLS TP    $24.99
FEB180045    MOEBIUS LIBRARY INSIDE MOBIUS HC VOL 02    $39.99
APR180014    SWORD DAUGHTER #1 CVR A    $4.99
APR180015    SWORD DAUGHTER #1 CVR B CHATER    $4.99
APR180028    XERXES FALL OF HOUSE OF DARIUS #3 (OF 5) (MR)    $4.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 6, 2018

DC COMICS

APR180169    BATMAN #48    $2.99
APR180170    BATMAN #48 VAR ED    $2.99
APR180174    BATMAN PRELUDE TO THE WEDDING NIGHTWING VS HUSH #1    $3.99
MAR180335    BATMAN REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 02    $34.99
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MAR180344    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE TP VOL 01    $16.99
APR180200    GREEN ARROW #41    $3.99
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DEC170399    WONDER WOMAN BY GEORGE PEREZ OMNIBUS HC VOL 03    $99.99

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for June 6, 2018

D. E.

APR180954    HACK SLASH VS VAMPIRELLA TP    $19.99
DEC171511    REANIMATOR COLLECTIBLE BOARD GAME    $39.99
FEB181447    RED SONJA #16 CVR A MCKONE    $3.99
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APR180995    RED SONJA TARZAN #2 CVR D SUBSCRIPTION CASTRO    $3.99
APR180999    SHERLOCK HOLMES VANISHING MAN #2 CVR A CASSADAY    $3.99
APR181009    SWASHBUCKLERS SAGA CONTINUES #3 CVR A GUICE    $3.99
APR181010    SWASHBUCKLERS SAGA CONTINUES #3 CVR B MUTTI    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for June 6, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB180452    DEMI-GOD #2 CVR A SMITH    $3.99
FEB180453    DEMI-GOD #2 CVR B LEONARDI    $3.99
MAR180443    GHOSTBUSTERS CROSSING OVER #3 CVR A SCHOENING    $3.99
MAR180444    GHOSTBUSTERS CROSSING OVER #3 CVR B LATTIE    $3.99
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APR180428    OCTOBER FACTION SUPERNATURAL DREAMS #4 CVR A WORM    $3.99
APR180429    OCTOBER FACTION SUPERNATURAL DREAMS #4 CVR B WORM    $3.99
APR180425    RICK VEITCH THE ONE #5 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR180404    STAR WARS ADVENTURES #11 CVR A CHARM    $3.99
APR180405    STAR WARS ADVENTURES #11 CVR B CHARRETIER    $3.99
MAR180560    STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONIST GN BOOK 02    $24.99
FEB180397    TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 15    $19.99
APR180328    TMNT ONGOING #83 CVR A WACHTER    $3.99
APR180329    TMNT ONGOING #83 CVR B EASTMAN    $3.99
APR180327    TMNT ONGOING TP VOL 19 INVASION OF THE TRICERATONS    $17.99
APR180354    TRANSFORMERS OPTIMUS PRIME TP VOL 03    $19.99