Review: HOUSE OF WHISPERS #2

HOUSE OF WHISPERS No. 2
DC COMICS – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Nalo Hopkinson
ART: Dominike “DOMO” Stanton
COLORS: John Rauch
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: Sean Andrew Murray
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

“The Power Divided”

House of Whispers is a new comic book series that is part of The Sandman Universe, published under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.  The Sandman Universe is a line of comic books inspired by the dark fantasy comic books that Neil Gaiman wrote for DC, in particular The Sandman (1989-1996) and The Books of Magic (1990-1991).

House of Whispers is written by Nalo Hopkinson; drawn by Dominike “DOMO” Stanton; colored by John Rauch; and lettered by Deron Bennett.  The series focuses on a tragic goddess of love (among other things) who grants the wishes and counsels the souls of those who visit her in their dreams.

House of Whispers #2 (“The Power Divided”) finds the House of Dahomey (a houseboat) trapped in The Dreaming.  Its owner, the goddess Erzulie Fréda, is in a state, as being in The Dreaming has cut her off from her worshipers and thus, her power.  Now, she is about to send her houseboat careening towards the rift or crack through which her house passed into this place she shouldn't be.  She will need the help of her rascally nephew, Shakpana, a troublemaker not sure what trouble he caused.  Meanwhile, LaToya awakens from her coma, and then, tries to convince her partner, Maggie, that despite her awakening, she is dead....

Writer Nalo Hopkinson continues the assault on our senses that she began in House of Whispers #1 with a dazzling array of colorful sequences, sparkling story elements, and fabulous characters.  Reading this comic book is still like experiencing an African or African-American folk music festival full of fierce beats and infectious rhythms.  This issue, however, Hopkinson keeps bumping the turntable with a series of adversarial events for her characters that also keeps the story from being predictable.

Artist Dominike “DOMO” Stanton explodes it all into life with imaginative page designs and kinetic graphics.  Often it is the way DOMO places his characters and elements that really conveys the characters' distress over the chaos of their environments.  It becomes a beautiful wall of graphics that are living out loud once John Rauch adds his pulsating colors to the art.

Letterer Deron Bennett does a Steph Curry-like shimmy as he place the word balloons in just the right places, accompanying his collaborators with his own special moves.  All of it is under another fine-ass Sean Andrew Murray cover.  House of Whispers #2 does not play it safe.  It pushes forward as Nalo Hopkinson captains her houseboat into uncharted comic book waters.

9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


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I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #100

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 100
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Jack Briglio
PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Roberto Barrios
INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Sebastian Bartolucci
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Travis Lanham
EDITORS: Lauren Bisom; Jeanine Schaefer
COVER: Dave Alavarez
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2019)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“School Dazed”

I am continuing my journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  I renewed my subscription (for a second time) and (landmark, of sorts) issue #100 is the second issue I received from that renewal.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #100 opens with “School Dazed," which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are attending a dog obedience school reunion at Scooby's old school, “The Poochiversity.”

The school is famous for being the place that trained “Ring Ding Ding,” a canine star of early Hollywood, including appearing in some movies from the “Silent Film” era.  Now, Ring Ding Ding has apparently returned as a green-hued ghost, haunting the reunion and terrorizing pure breeds, mutts, and 'fraidy cat-dogs alike.

The second story, “Secrets Unlimited,” is, as usual, a reprint and is written by Jack Briglio and drawn by Roberto Barrios and Sebastian Bartolucci.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #133 (cover date: August 2008).]  Mystery Inc. is attending a filming session of the reality television series, “Last Person Standing,” when suddenly a clay-covered monster attacks the set.  Before Mystery Inc. can act, however, “Secrets Unlimited” arrives to chase the monster away.

What is and who are “Secrets Unlimited?”  They are two guys, two girls, and a dog, and they fight monsters!  They have their own reality show, and they are about to make Mystery Inc. irrelevant.  That is unless Scooby, Shaggy, and the gang can unravel the truth about Secrets Unlimited and the monster that keeps appearing right before Secrets Unlimited arrives to save the day.

I find “School Dazed” to be an odd and entertaining story for two reasons.  First, I simply can't imagine Scooby-Doo attending an obedience school.  Secondly, the barking of the dogs in this story is translated as dialogue between the canines.  I think this is the first time I have ever encountered any Scooby-Doo story, comics or animated film/TV, in which Scooby speaks coherently, at least to other dogs.  In fact, this may be the first time that any writer has declared that Scooby attended obedience school.  So for these reasons, I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #100, and I will call it a semi-landmark issue in this series.

“Secrets Unlimited” is also a novel story, simply for presenting Mystery Inc. with a rival group of fighters of the paranormal and supernatural.  Honestly, these “rivals” seem more like front-runners since they really don't investigate anything, but they do show up to pose.  Has Mystery Inc. ever faced off against a rival team in the various incarnations of the Scooby-Doo TV series?

By the way, Dave Alvarez once again illustrates a striking cover image for this series.  See you next issue.

B+
7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SAVAGE AVENGERS #1

SAVAGE AVENGERS No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gerry Duggan
ART: Mike Deodato, Jr.
COLORS: Frank Martin
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebulski”
COVER: David Finch with Frank D'Armata
VARIANT COVERS: Simone Bianchi with Simone Peruzzi; Mike Deodato, Jr. with Frank Martin; Moebius; Skottie Young; Leinil Francis Yu with Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2019)

Rated “Parental Advisory”

Avengers created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Chapter One: “Once Upon a Time in the City of Sickles”

The Avengers are Marvel Comics' premiere team of superheroes.  Known as “Earth's Mightiest Heroes,” the team made its debut in The Avengers #1 (cover dated:  September 1963) and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Conan the Cimmerian is a “sword and sorcery” character created by Robert E. Howard (REH).  Conan first appeared in the pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  Conan lived in Howard's fictional “Hyborian Age” and was a mercenary, outlaw, pirate, thief, warrior, and eventually a king, but because of his tribal origins, some characters that encountered him thought of Conan as a barbarian.  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books with the series, Conan the Barbarian.

Conan the Barbarian teams-up with Wolverine, The Punisher, Venom, Elektra and Doctor Voodoo to give the Avengers a savage spin in the new comic book series, Savage Avengers.  This ongoing title is written by Gerry Duggan; drawn by Mike Deodato, Jr.; colored by Frank Martin; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  The premise of this team-up is that these heroes, anti-heroes, and villains must work together to put an end to the machinations of the evil wizards of Conan’s world who have start trading spells with The Hand, the infamous ninja organization.

Savage Avengers #1 (“Once Upon a Time in the City of Sickles”) opens with a famous opera singer who is kidnapped and spirited away to The Savage Land, specifically the “City of Sickles.”  There a menacing man known as the “Cult Leader” kills the opera singer and throws his body into a giant bowl.  This bowl is filled with the bloody and broken corpses of some of mankind's best artists, thinkers, and warriors.  But more is needed if this cult is going to summon a brutal dark god, “Jhoatun Lau, the Marrow God,” who resides on a mysterious planet beyond Pluto.

Meanwhile, Conan, looking for priceless jewel now in the Savage Land, runs into Wolverine.  Suddenly, two of the fiercest, most vicious, and most brutal warriors of two worlds will fight, apparently to the death.  Meanwhile, Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher makes a discovery that will summon his dark side.

I was interested in Savage Avengers when I read the first announcement about it, but I was not interested enough to read it right away.  I recently came upon a copy of Savage Avengers #1, and, after putting it off, decided to read it.  Wow, I must say I enjoyed it.  Most of this issue depicts a brutal, hack-and-slash, stab-and-stab-again battle between Conan and Wolverine.  Still, writer Gerry Duggan offers a dark and interesting scenario – a giant bowl containing a pool of blood and ofal – and a scary-sounding dark god.

As usual Mike Deodato, Jr. presents beautiful art.  His art is an illustrated symphony of sharp line work and precision crosshatching.  Deodato's graphical storytelling suggests classic horror comics, and Frank Martin's colors are the perfect accompaniment to Deodato's night music art.  Deodato and Martin's depiction of Jhoatun Lau makes the geek in me holler, Awesome!

Letter Travis Lanham also plays music, the ebb and flow offering different levels of intensity.  Lanham goes from intense and loud (Conan vs. Wolverine) to menacing intensity (the cult).  I'm shocked by how much I like Savage Avengers #1, but I am looking for more issues.

8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: STAR WARS: Age of Resistance - Finn #1

STAR WARS: AGE OF RESISTANCE – FINN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
ART: Ramon Rosanas
COLORS: Guru eFX
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Phil Noto
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Elia Bonetti; Mike McKone with Guru eFX; Glyn Dillon (Concept Design Variant Artist)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Rated T

“Infestation”

Finn is one of the new Star Wars characters that appear in the “sequel” film series.  Finn debuted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).  Finn was a stormtrooper of the “First Order,” and he was known as “Designation FN-2187.”  Finn was shocked by the cruelty of the First Order that he witnessed on his first mission.  He escaped the First Order and eventually joined “the Resistance.”

Marvel Comics is currently publishing a new Star Wars maxi-series project that is comprised of three series:  Star Wars: Age of Republic and Star Wars: Age of Rebellion (both of which have been completed, and the new series, Star Wars: Age of Resistance.  This project will span 30 issues in total (reportedly), with each issue spotlighting one hero or villain from one of three particular Star Wars eras:  Republic (prequel trilogy), Rebellion (original trilogy), and Resistance (sequel trilogy).

Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 is the first release in the Age of Resistance series.  It is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Ramon Rosanas; colored by Guru eFX, and lettered by Travis Lanham.  This comic book is set before the events depicted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and offers a look at the origins of Finn's doubts about his life as a stormtrooper.

Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 (“Infestation”) opens on “Starkiller Base.”  We meet FN-2187, a young First Order stormtrooper.  Like his partner, FN-3761, FN-2187 is a janitor, and he has a mop in his hand, even when he meets the mysterious Kylo Ren.  His commander, Captain Phasma, orders the two stormtrooper janitors to join a cleaning crew.  Upon arrival, however, 2187 and 3761 discover that the members of this cleaning crew are holding weapons instead of mops.  There seems to be some kind of pest control issue, but how will that lead FN-2187 to question everything?

I have not read all the “Age of” Star Wars comic books that Marvel Comics have released (as of this writing).  I read only two of the Age of Republic titles, but I read five of the Age of Rebellion titles because the “Age of Rebellion,” otherwise known as the “original trilogy” era, is the Star Wars time period I truly love.  I have not made up my mind about how much I want to delve into the Age of Resistance comics.  I do really like the Resistance's heroic trio of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, but I can't say I care much for characters like Captain Phasma and General Hux.

I like Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1.  Like the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader entries in this series (or series of series), Finn #1 gives us a look at the development of Star Wars figure's character and personality.  Clearly, something had been going on in Finn's mind that led him to take the actions that separated him from the First Order, as seen early in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  You know, there are the makings for a potentially high-quality Star Wars comic book series in Finn's life before his debut in “Episode VII.”

Although I like this story, “Infestation,” it is not anything heavy.  Tom Taylor offers something sweet and gentle that does not rock the continuity boat.  I like Ramon Rosanas' art, and Guru eFX's color effects, which are nice against the somewhat muted colors.  There is also something sweet and gentle in Rosanas' graphical storytelling and in Guru's coloring that makes me like this comic book more than I probably should.  As I usually say, letterer Travis Lanham has been providing excellent work on these AOR titles, and continues to do so here.

I can't say that Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 will make me read all the Age of Resistance titles, but I like this enough to give all of them at least a cursory glance.

[This comic book includes the text piece, “I'm Gonna Call You Finn,” by Bryan Young.]

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for November 13, 2019

BOOM! STUDIOS

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DARK HORSE COMICS

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