Friday, April 2, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: TEEN TITANS: Raven

TEEN TITANS: RAVEN
DC COMICS/DC Ink – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kami Garcia
ART: Gabriel Picolo with Jon Sommariva and Emma Kubert
COLORS: David Calderon
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
ISBN:  978-1-4012-8623-1; paperback; (June 26, 2019)
192pp, Color, $16.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN

Rated: “Everyone”; Age Range: 12 and up

Raven created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez

Raven is a female DC Comics superhero.  Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, Raven first appeared in a special insert in the DC Comics digest magazine, DC Comics Presents #26 (cover dated:  October 1980).  She was one of the new members of a revamped version of the DC Comics teen superhero group, Teen Titans, that launched in The New Teen Titans #1 (cover dated:  November 1980).

Raven was the daughter of a human mother and a demon father (named Trigon).  Raven was a powerful empath who could sense the emotions of others.  She could also project her “soul-self,” which took the form of a large shadowy, Raven-like figure.

DC Comics introduces a new version of Raven in the original graphic novel, Teen Titans: Raven, published under the “DC Ink” imprint.  Recently made defunct, “DC Ink” offered original graphic novels for readers 13-years-old and older.  DC Ink titles, according to DC Comics, featured coming-of-age stories that encouraged teens to ask themselves who they are and how they relate to others.  [DC Ink is now known as “DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults.”]

Teen Titans: Raven is written by bestselling author, Kami Garcia.  Garcia is the author of “The Legion” young adult novel series and with Margaret Stohl, is the co-author of the “Caster Chronicles” series (the best known being the 2009 novel, Beautiful Creatures).  Teen Titans: Raven is illustrated by Gabriel Picolo with the assistance of Jon Sommariva and Emma KubertDavid Calderon colors the art, and Tom Napolitano is the letterer.  Teen Titans: Raven focus on a teen girl who moves to New Orleans to live with her late foster mother's family, as she struggles with memory loss and with the strange visions and voices she experiences.

Teen Titans: Raven opens in Atlanta, Georgia where we meet 17-year-old Rachel “Raven” Roth and her foster mother, Viviane Navarro, just before a tragic accident takes Viviane's life.  Three weeks later, Raven is in New Orleans living with Viviane's sister, Natalia Navarro, and her daughter, Maxine, also called “Max.”

Raven is trying to finish her senior year in high school, but starting over isn't easy – especially when you suffer from memory issues.  Raven remembers how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can’t remember things like what were her favorite songs, favorite books, or even her favorite candy.  Raven does not know who she was before the accident.  Luckily, Raven grows closer to her foster sister, Max, and Max's circle of friends accepts Raven.  There is even a persistent boy, Tommy Torres, who is crushing on Raven and who accepts her for who she is now.

Still, Raven hears voices in her head, and she can seem to make people do things she thinks about them doing.  Some of her dreams seem to be about things that people actually do in the waking world, and sometimes, a dark figure haunts her dreams.  And everyone around her apparently has secrets:  Natalia, Max, and even Tommy.  And worst of all, what secrets are Raven's lost memories hiding from her?

Including the two previous “DC Ink” graphic novels that I have thus far read. Mera: Tidebreaker and Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale, Teen Titans: Raven is the best written.  That is saying something because the Mera and Catwoman graphic novels were wonderfully engaging stories.  I think what I like about Teen Titans: Raven so much is that writer Kami Garcia focuses on the notion that what is important is what a person is now in the present.  What is less important is who you were, so while it is important that Raven regains her memories, she can be a good person regardless of her past and without her memories of her past.

Garcia also fills Teen Titans: Raven with so many wonderful supporting characters.  Garcia portrays Natalia, Max, and Tommy with such engaging personalities and with so many intriguing secrets that each could be the star of her or his own graphic novel.  Without spoiling anything, I can say that there is a female army (of sorts) that could carry a miniseries or a maxiseries or even an ongoing series.

Gabriel Picolo's art is so evocative, especially in portraying emotions and attitudes.  Picolo's graphical storytelling is at once a high school melodrama and then a tale of mystery and magic.  He balances the natural and the mundane with the supernatural and spectacular with the deftness of a veteran comic book artist.  Picolo's striking cover illustration also makes Teen Titans: Raven hard to ignore on a bookshelf.  Teen Titans: Raven doesn't have DC Ink's best art, but Picolo is good.  [I am still declaring “best art” for Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale.]

David Calderon's mercurial coloring adds to the sense of magic and mystery.  Calderon's use of two-color in some sequences and his juxtaposition of multi-color and two-tones matches the fragmented state of Raven's memories.  Letterer Tom Napolitano captures all the modes and moods of Garcia's story and Picolo's art, conveying the narrative while suggesting the ethereal.  That is a magic trick.

Teen Titans: Raven is the best Teen Titans-related comic book that I have read in several years.  After three DC Ink titles (and one DC Zoom title), I can say that, right now, DC Comics' best publications are its original graphic novels for juvenile readers.

9 out of 10

Teen Titans: Raven contains the following extras and back matter:
  • two author biographical pages
  • an 11-page,  full-color preview of the graphic novel, Teen Titans: Beast Boy, from Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo and David Calderon


Reviewed by Leory 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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Thursday, April 1, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 13

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 13
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1113-0; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

Demon Slayer is set in Japan's Taisho era (1912 to 1926).  It focuses on Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest and finds his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.  Tanjiro becomes a Demon Slayer in order to find and destroy that demon, Muzan Kibutsuji.

As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 13 (Chapters 107 to 115; entitled “Transitions”) opens, Tanjiro is up to his … neck in demons.  While recovering from injuries he sustained in battle, Tanjiro traveled to the mysterious and hidden “village of the sword-smiths.”  There, he would get his damaged katana repaired by Haganezuka, the man who forged the sword.  But once Tanjiro arrived, he started having strange experiences.

Now, Tanjiro is in a battle with the strange, shape-shifting demons, Upper Rank 4: Hantengu and Upper Rank 5: Gyokko.  Joining him in battle is the “Mist Hashira,” Muichiro Tokito, who struggles against these demons even with all his power.  Suddenly, only Tanjiro and another Demon Slayer, Genya Shinazugawa, stand against seemingly unbeatable demons.  Can the two Slayers handle a demon that can split itself into four separate bodies and regenerate almost instantly?

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga has become one of my favorite graphic novel series.  It is, however, hard to keep up with the series as VIZ is currently publishing it on a monthly basis, for which I don't blame them.  Demon Slayer is a huge bestseller on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel Volume 13 joins Vols. 7 to 12 to create a fantastic run of superb shonen dark fantasy action-adventure storytelling.  Creator Koyoharu Gotouge ended a long and intense story arc in Vol. 11, but he put his readers right back into the thick of things with another demonic mystery.  Simply put, Demon Slayer is great because Tanjiro's struggles and battles are hard to ignore once you start reading, dear readers.

John Werry's translation and Steve “Stan!” Brown's English-language adaptation deliver an engaging read, as always.  In Volume 13, their work captures Genya Shinazugawa's conflicts and internal battle in all their full dark and bitter glory.  And since that is the case, why stop reading now?

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

9 out of 10

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


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

I Reads You Juniors: March 2021 - Update #101

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS

DC TV - From THR:  Actor Barry Watson, who starred in such TheWB/TheCW series as "7th Heaven" and "Hart of Dixie," will return to The CW as a cast member of the pilot for "Naomi," based on the DC Comics titles.

DC TV - From GamesRadar:   Patrick Schumaker, the showrunner for the hit animated series, "Harley Quinn," teases the voice-acting appearance of an actor from the upcoming film, "The Suicide Squad," appearing in season three of Harley Quinn.

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered:  Rumor - Warner Bros. did not want Ryan Reynolds to reprise his role as Green Lanter.  Reynolds played the character in the box office and critical disappointment, "Green Lantern."

VIZ MEDIA - From AWN:   Showrunner Steven Maeda wants to assure fans that despite a COVID-19 hiatus his team hasn't stopped working on Netflix's "One Piece" live-action TV series.

DC TV - From Deadline:   Actor Jordan Fisher will portray "Bart Allen," the superhero "Impusle" in The CW's "The Flash."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   DC Comics will collect all three "Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" miniseries and spinoffs in an omnibus edition that is due to ship the last week of December 2021.

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Novelist Victor LaValle is joining Marvel as a writer on the "X-Men" line of comic books.

DC CINEMA - From BleedingCool:   Actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announces that his DC Films' movie, "Black Adam," will open in theaters July 29th, 2022.  This article includes the announcement video clip that ties into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

CONVENTIONS - From Deadline:   San Diego Comic-Con announces a three-day "special edition" for Thanksgiving weekend.  Kicking off November 26th, it will be the SDCC's first in-person convention since 2019.

IMAGE COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Artist Gary Frank talks to "Newsarama" about his new creator-owned comic, "Geiger," with writer Geoff Johns and their plans for a larger creator-owned universe.

DC CINEMA - From YouTube:  Here is the first trailer (Fri., March 26th, 2021) for James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Marvel Comics has found a new distributor to get its comics into comic shops. Marvel has entered into an exclusive multi-year deal with Penguin Random House's distribution arm to deliver its comic books, trade collections, and graphic novels to the comic shop market (the Direct Market) beginning on October 1, 2021.  Retails can still order Marvel titles from Diamond Comic Distributors, which will actually be getting them from Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS).

From BleedingCool:  Penguin Random House answers 52 questions about its Marvel Comics distribution deal.

From BleedingCool:  Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment, has issued a public statement about Marvel's distribution deal with Penguin Random House Publisher Services.

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MILESTONE - From BleedingCool:   DC Comics was going to release its new Milestone titles as digital-first titles.  Now, DC will release them print and digitally simultaneously.

DC CINEMA - From DCBlog:   Former James Bond star, Pierce Brosnan will play the character, "Doctor Fate," in DC Film's "Black Adam" movie.  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will play the lead.

COMICS TO FILM - From THR:   We're eagerly awaiting director Cary Fukunaga's James Bond film, "No Time to Die."  He has a new project, directing a film version of Image Comics' cyberpunk series, "Tokyo Ghost."

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Actor Ron Livingston will play Barry Allen's father in DC Films' "The Flash."
 
From THR:  Spanish actress, Maribel Verdu, will play Barry Allen's mother in DC Films' "The Flash." 
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COMICS - From THR:  Like Keanu Reeves, actor Thomas Jane ("The Punisher"), is getting into the comic book publishing business.  His series, "Lycan."  Mike Carey and David James Kelly will write the series, and AfterShock Comics will publish.

DC CINEMA - From THR:   Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren will play the villain "Hespera" in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," the sequel to 2019's "Shazam!"

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Superman and the Authority" by Grant Morrison and Mikel Janin.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:   WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff speaks on "Zack Snyder's Justice League" and the future of DC Films.

COMICS TO FILM - From WeGotThisCovered:  Keanu Reeves will reportedly star in a Netflix adaptation of his recently released comic book, BRZRKR.

DC TV - From Deadline:  Actress Wallis Day has replaced actress Ruby Rose as "Kate Kane" in The CW's "Batwoman."  The character, "Ryan Wilder" (Javicia Leslie) will continue to be Batwoman.  Rose's Kate Kate had been Batwoman in the series' first season.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   Hot off her film, "Promising Young Woman," Emerald Fennell is set to write the script for Warner Bros. and Bad Robot's "Zatanna," a DC Films movie.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics is raising the cover price on some "Batman" titles to $5.99 U.S.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   Zack Snyder has a Q&A with "Deadline" and speaks on his “Cathartic Journey” with his 4-hour-plus "Justice League" cut, his future with DC & original intentions for Ray Fisher "Cyborg" Movie.

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:   The final issue of writer Ta-Nehisi Coates' run on "Captain America" will be issue #30. 

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Writer-artist Joe Benitez is moving his self-published comic book, "Lady Mechanika," to Image Comics, where he once worked via Top Cow Productions.  The first issue of the new series begins in September.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics now has the license to produce comics based on the "Predator" film franchise.  They start in June with "Predator #1" from writer Ed Brisson and artist Kev Walker.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  DC Films, Warner Bros. and Chernin Entertainment are united to produce a film based on the comic book character "Hourman."

MARVEL - From EW:   Artist Russell Dauterman has designed some high fashion costumes for the X-Men that will appear in this summer's "Hellfire Gala" event.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY - From BleedingCool:   In a scoop, the site has a list of all 50 "Free Comic Book Day 2021" titles.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  It appears that DC Comics will finish publish Jeff Lemire and Keith Giffen's "Inferior Five" six-issue comic book miniseries, which it cancelled after issue four.  Issue 5 has been published on comiXology.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press announces six manga titles for release in April and May, including "I'm the Catlords' Manservant, Vol. 1"

HEAVY METAL - From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston updates the legal issues between Diane O'Bannon, widow of screenwriter Dan O'Bannon, and Heavy Metal publications over the use of the "B-17" concept that Dan created for the 1981 "Heavy Metal" film.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   In the miniseries, "The United States of Captain America," Marvel will introduce a gay Captain America.  The series starts June 2021.

MANGA TO FILM - From Looper:   The site recommends the manga, "Gunnm," if you loved the movie, "Alita: Battle Angel."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   June is "Pride Month."  Marvel Comics" has announced a one-shot anthology, "Marvel Voices: Pride #1."

CARTOONS - From CNN:  The cover of the recent issue of "Charlie Hebdo," the French satirical magazine, has drawn ire.  The cartoon depicts Queen Elizabeth II kneeling on the neck of Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.

DARWYN COOKE - From GamesRadar:   Marsha Cooke, widow of the late, great artist, Darwyn Cooke, has asked DC Comics not to use images from her late husband's art as the basis for NFT crypt art.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics has plans for Green Arrow's 80th anniversary, including a 100-page special.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Garth Ennis and Liam Sharp's first project together will be a Batman and Killer Croc comic book entitled, "Batman: Reptilian," for the "Black Label" imprint.

FASHION - From ElevenbyVenus:   Browse the selection of "Wonder Woman"-inspired fashion by tennis champion and designer Venus Williams.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   The "Believe in Wonder" campaign to celebrate 80 years of Wonder Woman has kicked off.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   DC Comics has "Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) plans.
 
From From BleedingCool:  Comic creators react to DC Comics and NFT.
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DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   There will be a "Batman: The Adventure Continues Season II" and it will feature "the Court of Owls."

IMAGE - From SmashPages:   The maxi-series, "Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem," will expand on Netflix's "Jupiter's Legacy" television series.

IDW - From TheBeat:   It turns out that Mark Doyle was only one of three editorial hires that IDW Publishing made.

ALAN MOORE - From BleedingCool:   There will be an auction for the publishing rights to legendary comic book writer, Alan Moore's "Long London" series of novels.

VIZ MEDIA - From Nintendojo:   VIZ Media will publish "Kirby Manga Mania Vol. 1" June 8th.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:    Here is a list of Spider-Man comics and books for the rest of 2021 and into the next year.

IDW - From BleedingCool;  Mark Doyle, the founder of DC Comics' "Black Label" imprint, is now "Editorial Director" at IDW Publishing.  Doyle was one of the DC staff let go ("fired") in 2020.

EN MEMORIAM - From APNews:   Norton Juster, the architect who became a children's book author, has died at the age of 91, Monday, March 8, 2021.  He is best known for the 1961 children's fantasy adventure novel, "The Phantom Tollbooth" and "The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics" (1963), which was adapted into an Academy Award winning animated short film.

VIZ Media - From ComicBook:   VIZ Media reports that 2020 was a major growth year for them.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  "The Amazing Spider-Man #67-69" will be published weekly as part "Chameleon Conspiracy" story line.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Because of the success of Disney+'s "WandaVision," the following trade paperback collections: "The Vision Complete Collection," "Vision & Scarlet Witch: The Saga of Wanda and Vision," "House of M," and "Scarlet Witch by James Robinson: The Complete Collection" are all on back-order, with whatever copies comic shops and bookstores have now to be it until April 21, 2021 at the earliest.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Wonder Woman 80th anniversary celebration plans announced, including 100-page comic book special.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Erik Larsen is finally publishing the 12th issue of Ant, a comic book series he bought from artit OMB (formerly known as Mario Gully), in June 2021.

COMICS - From SmashPages:   Writer-artist Colleen Doran is going to adapt author Neil Gaiman's short story, "Chivalry," as a graphic novel, as she did with Gaiman's "Troll Bridge" and "Snow, Glass, Apples."

MANGA-ANIME - From CBR:  How to start reading the "Fruits Basket" manga and how to start watching the "Fruits Basket" anime.

MARVEL-MANGA - From BleedingCool:  The "Deadpool: Samurai" manga may be the most read Marvel comic in the world.

MANGA - From HypeBeast:   U.S. manga sales saw a 44% increase in sales in 2020.

MANGA - From ComicBook:   Kodansha Comics is going to release a limited edition, titan-sized volume of "Attack on Titan."

MANGA TO FILM - From Deadline: "John Wick" scribe Derek Kolstad and Amazon Studios teaming up on adaptation Of Japanese manga "Hellsing."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Gwen Stacey is "Spider-Gwen" no more in "Heroes Reborn."

MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety:  Anthony Mackie finally takes the lead in a Marvel Studios project and gets a cover profile from "Variety."

FOX MARVEL U - From YahooEntertainment:  Once upon a time, Hugh Jackman saw director Lee Daniel's Oscar-winning film, "Precious," and wanted Daniels to direct the Wolverine sequel that would become 2013s "The Wolverine."

BOOM STUDIOS - From WashPost:   International superstar actor Keanu Reeves talks about writing his own comic book, "BRZRKR."

BLACK COMICS - From News19:  A profiel: "Illustrator Sanford Greene paving the way for Black heroes, and the artists behind them."

DC COMICS - From CBR:   Who is Val-Zod, Earth-Two's black Man of Steel?

DC CINEMA - From AVClub:  Ray Fisher shares new details of "racially discriminatory conversations" on Justice League set.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:   On "Instagram," comic book artist Joe Madureira may be teasing the long-awaited arrival of the tenth issue of his comic books series, "Battle Chasers."  The ninth issue was published in 2001.
 
From BleedingCoolUPDATE:  Joe Madureira has announced that video game artist LudoLullabi will draw "Battle Chasers #10," which will be due in comic book shops later this year.
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MANGA - From CBR:  How to start reading the Inuyasha manga or watching the animae.

DC TV - From Deadline:   The CW has renewed "Superman & Lois" for a second season after its strong debut on multiple platforms.

IMAGE COMICS - From THR:  Mark Millar has announced the final entry in his "Jupiter's Legacy" comic book line.  It is "Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem," which artist Tommy Lee Edwards will draw.  The series arrives in June 2021.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From PW:  "Publisher's Weekly" talks to Shira Spector about her debut graphic novel memoir, "Red Rock Baby Candy."

CONVENTIONS - From GamesRadar:   San Diego Comic-Con International 2021 will be an online-only event.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  News of a Superman movie featuring a "Black Superman" has caused eBay sales on some DC Comics titles to explode.

COMICS TO TV - From EW:  "Entertainment Weekly" has a first-look at the comics-to-screen translation of Netflix's "Jupiter's Circle."  The series is based on the comic book by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely.

From YouTube:  "Jupiter's Legacy" first look video.
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DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   The worlds of comic books and video games collide  on April 20, 2021 as DC and Epic Games announced plans to publish "Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point," a six-issue miniseries that combines the Dark Knight and other DC Super Heroes with the global gaming phenomenon, "Fortnite."

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MARCH 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2021 
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for March 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  March Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Second Sight for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2021
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for March 2021

APRIL 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for April 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Second Sight for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for April 2021
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for April 2021

MAY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Comic House for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2021
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for May 2021

JUNE 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for June 2021 
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Eaglemoss for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for June 2021
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for June 2021 

AUGUST 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day for August 14, 2021

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#IReadsYou Movie Review: BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN Has Lovable Heroes, Dull Villains

BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN – video (2017)

Running time:  74 minutes (1 hour, 24 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, language, violence and action, and for rude humor
DIRECTOR:  Sam Liu
WRITERS:  Bruce Timm and Jim Krieg; from a story by Bruce Timm (based on characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics)
EDITOR:  Christopher D. Lozinski
COMPOSERS:  Kristopher Carter Michael McCuistion Lolita Ritmanis
ANIMATION STUDIO:  DR Movie

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY

Starring:  (voices) Kevin Conroy, Melissa Rauch, Loren Lester, Paget Brewster, Kevin Michael Richardson, John DiMaggio, Eric Bauza, Robin Atkin Downes, Trevor Devall, Rob Paulsen, Mindy Sterling, and Bruce Timm

Batman and Harley Quinn is a 2017 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation and director Sam Lui.  The film shares a connection and design style with the animated television series, “The New Batman Adventures” (1997-99), and is spiritually related to that series' predecessor, “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95), which is the series in which Harley Quinn made her first appearance.  In Batman and Harley Quinn, Batman and Nightwing are forced to team with Harley Quinn in order to stop a global threat.

Batman and Harley Quinn opens with Batman (Kevin Conroy) and his partner, Nightwing (Loren Lester), who was once known as Robin, the Boy Wonder.  The duo has discovered that the villainess, Poison Ivy / Pamela Isley (Paget Brewster) has teamed up with Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man (Kevin Michael Richardson), an alien plant creature that shares Poison Ivy's desire to give plants supremacy of Earth over humanity.  Poison Ivy and Floronic Man plan to create their own viral version of the “bio-restorative formula” that transformed Dr. Alec Holland into the Swamp Thing (John DiMaggio).  To that end, they have kidnapped a scientist, Dr. Harold Goldblum (Rob Paulsen), and forced him to help them replicate the formula.

Ivy and Woodrue are unaware that their altered formula could destroy all life (human, animal, and plant), so Batman and Nightwing must stop them before they finish their formula.  However, “the Dynamic Duo” are struggling in their mission to find the villains and reluctantly turn to Ivy's best friend, Harley Quinn (Melissa Rauch), in the hopes that she will have an idea or two on where to find Ivy.  But Harley has gone into hiding after her most recent recent parole from imprisonment.  Finding Harley won't be easy, and who says she wants to help Batman and Nightwing find her BFF – best friend forever!  And if she does cooperate, can Batman and Nightwing trust Harley?

Bruce Timm was one of the main creative forces behind “Batman: The Animated Series” and “The New Batman Adventures,” as well as other wonderful animated television series that featured DC Comics superheroes.  So I am always happy when he returns to his corner of the animated DC Universe, this time as a writer and executive producer.  One of my favorite animation writers, Jim Krieg, co-wrote Batman and Harley Quinn with Timm.  Voice actor Kevin Conroy, who is beloved for his work playing the voice of Batman / Bruce Wayne on several animated TV series and films, also returns as the voice of Batman for this film.

So I have a few reasons to love Batman and Harley Quinn, and I did indeed enjoy it, but it isn't one of the better direct-to-DVD animated DC Universe films.  The Floronic Man is an uninteresting bag of wind as a villain despite the best efforts of talented voice actor, Kevin Michael Richardson.  Also the Poison Ivy of this film is shallow, and looks weird.

The plot is lame, but their a few things that make me like Batman and Harley Quinn.  First, Timm and Krieg offer strong takes on the characters of Batman, Nightwing, and Harley, and the relationship dynamic between them as a trio or as a trio of duos sparkles with wit and genuine feeling.  Secondly, there are some surprisingly magical moments in this film, such as the karaoke medley in the middle of the film.  The Sarge Steel (John DiMaggio) and A.R.G.U.S. subplot is nice.  Finally, I love the design of the animation and the animation in general in this film.  It is as if “The New Batman Adventures” returned from the old cartoons graveyard for an hour or so.

Despite my reservations concerning its weak plot and villains, I highly recommend Batman and Harley Quinn to fans of Bruce Timm's 1990s Batman TV shows.  When it comes to animation overseen by Timm, I'll take anything and everything I can get.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: QUINCREDIBLE Vol. 1

QUINCREDIBLE, VOL. 1
ONI PRESS/THE LION FORGE

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Selina Espiritu
COLORS: Kelly Fitzpatrick
LETTERS: AW's Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Jasmine Amiri and Steenz
ISBN: 978-15493-0282-4; paperback (June 4, 2019)
144pp., Color, $14.99 U.S.

Reading age: 13 to 16 years; Grades 7 to 9

Quincredible is a five-issue comic book series from The Lion Forge.  The series focuses on a teen boy who tries to live his best life by being a superhero.  Quincredible is written by Rodney Barnes; drawn by Selina Espiritu, colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick, and lettered by Tom NapolitanoQuincredible #1 to #5 (November 2018 to March 2019) was collected in the 2019 trade paperback, Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to Be The Best.  [My review is based on the comiXology digital edition of the 2019 print edition of Quincredible Vol. 1.]

Quincredible Vol. 1 is set in New Orleans, Louisiana in the aftermath of two monumental events.  The first is Hurricane Katrina (2005), which has left the city's most vulnerable communities in an even more precarious position.  The second event is a meteor shower, which apparently bestowed super-powers on some humans directly exposed to the meteorites.  The people who gain powers from the meteors are called the “Enhanced.”

The story focuses on 15-year-old Quinton, also known as “Quin,” an African-American high school sophomore.  Quin is a familiar black American teenager.  He has a room full of electronics and gizmos, and he is especially adept at adapting them and inventing new versions.  Quin is also trying to navigate the social dynamics of both his neighborhood and his high school, and the former is characterized by power structures of systematic racism and of the white patriarchy.

However, Quin is also different.  He was exposed to the meteor show, and the powers he gained as a byproduct of that exposure are not flashy.  He has the power of invulnerability, but to Quin, he is “just invulnerable.” Still, Quin wants to make the world, especially his city, a better place.  So he is going to have to get creative if his 120-pound body and his invulnerability are going to save the day.

THE LOWDOWN:  What Quincredible writer Rodney Barnes presents in Quin is a familiar portrait of a black American teenager.  In terms of superhero comic books, Barnes offers in Quin the portrait of an American teenager as a superhero, a kind that is both familiar and classic.

In previous reviews, I have said that the former DC Comics/Milestone Media comic book series, Static, especially Static #1 to 4 (June to September 1993), reminded me of classic Spider-Man comic books.  I am thinking specifically of The Amazing Spider-Man #1 to 38 (March 1963 to July 1966) and The Amazing Spider-Man Annuals #1 and (1964-65), all produced by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.  I felt that classic Spider-Man vibe again when Marvel Comics introduced the new Black-Latino Spider-Man, Miles Morales.  Ultimate Spider-Man (2011) #1 to #10 (November 2011 to July 2012) recalls both classic Ditko-Lee Spider-Man and Static.  Like Marvel's Miles Morales, Milestone's Static the superhero is also an African-American teenager, Virgil Ovid Hawkins.

Now, the holy trinity of vibes is complete.  Quincredible reminds me of the original Spider-Man comic books, although Quincredible is closer to Static and Miles Morales Spider-Man, for obvious reasons.  Barnes tells a story of an ambitious and brave African-American teenage male who takes on the role of being a superhero because it is the right thing to do and not because a family tragedy spurred him to do so.  I like that what Barnes offers is a journey of discovery and of possibility, and it is also done with a positive and inquisitive vibe that I think young and teen readers need, especially young readers of color.

Artist Selina Espiritu creates graphical storytelling that is riveting and thrilling without being dark and scary.  Her storytelling also draws the reader into the world of Quincredible, and her clean drawing style, which emphasizes cartooning over realism, is perfect for a young adult graphic novel, which is what Quincredible Vol. 1 is.  Colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick's colors jump off the page, and veteran letterer, Tom Napolitano, creates a sense of non-stop action and high drama.

Barnes and Espiritu ground Quincredible in reality, giving the story an earthy tone that captures life in a unique locale like New Orleans.  Still, they maintain those elements of the fantastic that are crucial to comic books and graphic novels.

Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to Be the Best is scheduled to come back into print February 23, 2021.  This is a second chance to experience what I think is a great new teenage superhero in the classic tradition.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Readers looking for middle-grade and young adult graphic novels in the tradition of Spider-Man, Static Shock, and Miles Morales-Spider-Man will want to try Quincredible Vol. 1.

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a “Cover Gallery” and “Making of Quincredible,” and “Concept Sketches.”]

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



https://www.lionforge.com/quincredible/
https://www.lionforge.com/
https://twitter.com/lionforge
https://www.instagram.com/lionforge/
https://www.facebook.com/LionForge/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOFWzdeaPp2cANuuZzghqg

https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes
https://twitter.com/siriusdraws
https://twitter.com/wastedwings
https://twitter.com/TENapolitano


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, March 29, 2021

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for March 31, 2021

BOOM! STUDIOS

JAN210950    FIREFLY #27 CVR A BENGAL    $3.99
JAN210951    FIREFLY #27 CVR B RAHZZAH    $3.99
JAN218975    FIREFLY #27 CVR F UNLOCKABLE VAR    $3.99
NOV200951    GUNNERKRIGG COURT TP VOL 07    $16.99
JAN210919    POWER RANGERS UNLTD HEIR TO DARKNESS #1 CVR A MORA    $7.99
JAN210920    POWER RANGERS UNLTD HEIR TO DARKNESS #1 CVR B CONNECTING YOO    $7.99
JAN218976    POWER RANGERS UNLTD HEIR TO DARKNESS #1 CVR E UNLOCKABLE VAR    $7.99



Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 31, 2021

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC200282    AUTOBIOGRAPHIX HC    $24.99
NOV200246    BANDETTE TP VOL 02 STEALERS KEEPERS TP (RES)    $14.99
JAN210295    BLACK GHOST TP    $19.99
DEC200287    DISNEY PRINCESS BEYOND THE EXTRAORDINARY TP    $10.99
JAN210240    DRAGON AGE DARK FORTRESS #1 (OF 3)    $3.99
APR200378    EC ARCHIVES SHOCK ILLUSTRATED HC    $49.99
MAR200356    SACRED DECAY ART OF LAUREN MARX HC    $29.99
MAR200393    STARCRAFT TERRAN BATTLECRUISER SHIP REPLICA    $59.99
JAN210282    STRANGER THINGS TP VOL 04 SCIENCE CAMP    $19.99
NOV200241    TRIAL OF THE WIZARD KING TP BOOK TWO    $12.99
FEB200260    UNFINISHED BUSINESS HC    $19.99
DEC200286    USAGI YOJIMBO SAGA LIMITED ED HC VOL 09    $79.99
DEC200285    USAGI YOJIMBO SAGA TP VOL 09    $24.99
DEC200262    WITCHER FADING MEMORIES #4 (OF 4)    $3.99
DEC200263    WITCHER FADING MEMORIES #4 (OF 4) JEREMY WILSON VAR ED    $3.99
JAN210243    YOUNG HELLBOY THE HIDDEN LAND #2 (OF 4) CVR A SMITH    $3.99
JAN210244    YOUNG HELLBOY THE HIDDEN LAND #2 (OF 4) CVR B ARAGNO    $3.99