I Reads You

Thursday, June 11, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: NIGHT CLUB II #5

NIGHT CLUB II #5 (OF 6)

DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Juanan Ramírez

COLORS: Fabiana Mascolo

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITOR: Daniel Chabon

COVER: Juanan Ramírez with Fabiana Mascolo

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Juanan Ramirez

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2025)

Rating: 18+

Night Club created by Mark Millar at Netflix

Night Club II is a six-issue miniseries written and created by Mark Millar and drawn by Juanan Ramírez. A Dark Horse Comics publication and a Netflix production, Night Club II is a sequel to the 2023 miniseries, Night Club. Both series focus on a teen boy who is bitten by a vampire and decides to make the best of his new condition. Colorist Fabiana Mascolo and letterer Clem Robins complete Night Club II's creative team.

Night Club II focuses on 17-year-old Danny Garcia. After being turned into a vampire, he passed his new found powers unto his friends, DJ Sam Huxley and Amy Chen. Now, they're the superheroes: Starguard (Danny), Thundercloud (Sam), Yellowbird (Amy). But jealousy has broken up this vampire-superhero trio and opened the door to a disaster of newer, more nihilistic and narcissistic vampires.

Night Club II #5 opens in Philadelphia, specifically at St. Luke's Hospital. Amy is there to steal blood. In fact, she has been stealing from blood banks all over the city. Why is Amy a blood thief?

Risso, Kendra, and their vampire gang killed Danny and Sam. Amy believes that if vampires are real, then, some of the stories and myths about them must be real, also. Relying mostly on old horror movies, Amy has concocted an idea of how to bring her friends back from... the wherever.

Meanwhile, Risso pays a visit to someone to whom he believes he owes a flex. Plus, the Philly police are deep into an investigation of all these missing teens.

THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. The latest received is Night Club II #5.

Night Club II is full of surprises, and writer Mark Millar always drops surprises in his comic books. The unexpected is to be expected, and this fifth issue of Night Club II does not disappoint. The Hammer Film Productions vampire movies are clearly a point of reference here. Christopher Lee first plays Count Dracula in Hammer's 1958 film, Dracula (known as Horror of Dracula in the U.S.). In later Hammer-Lee Dracula films, the Count is revived via methods that are similar to the process Amy is using to revive her partners in superhero/vampire crime.

Artist Juanan Ramírez has built this narrative on capturing the reckless nature of young people with too much power, regardless of whether this power is natural or supernatural and criminal or evil. Ramirez's storytelling has made Night Club II a vampire comic book like no other. He brings Millar's unique concept to life with a style that is both gaudy and earthy. Night Club jumps off the page with Ramirez's incomparable graphics, and colorist Fabiana Mascolo brings the funk and flash to Ramirez's art. Clem Robins' lettering, as always, is a perfect accompaniment.

Night Club II does not disappoint, dear readers. It's vampire+.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar and of vampire comic books will want to be bitten by Night Club II.

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

This fifth issue is reprinted in the trade paperback, "NIGHT CLUB VOLUME 2," which is available at Amazon.

https://x.com/mrmarkmillar

https://x.com/netflix

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/

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Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Original Graphic Novel, "THE WRATH OF KARAPACE," is Now Available at Amazon

Hi, It's Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You" (Patreon). My first original graphic novel, THE WRATH OF KARAPACE: A BIG SPIRITS EPIC, which is published by Candle Light Press. Co-created by Carter J. Allen, (Warning Comics), The Wrath of Karapace is now on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. Also, have some milk and cookies while reading this wonderful graphic novel.

Other online shops that are selling "The Wrath of Karapace" include the following:

- AmazonUK;

- Bookshop.org;

- ElmStreetBooks;

- the German book shop, OrrellFussli;

- Powells.com;

- Russell Books.com;

- SuperBookDeals.com;

- Walmart online.

Of note, The Wrath of Karapace is also available on eBay from a few different sellers.

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"The Wrath of Karapace" also a "Google Books" listing.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: PERSEPOLIS: The Story of a Childhood

PERSEPOLIS: THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD

PANTHEON

CARTOONIST: Marjane Satrapi

TRANSLATION: Mattias Ripa and Blake Ferris

LETTERS: Eve Deluze

COVER: Marjane Satrapi with Jean-Christopher Menu

ISBN: 978-0-375-71457-3; paperback (June 2004)

164pp, B&W, $13.95, $17.95 CAN

Marjane Satrapi was an Iranian and French comics creator, graphic novelist, film director, and children's book author. She died recently (June 2026) at the age of 56. Her best-known work was the Persepolis, a series of graphic novels about her childhood and early adulthood in Iran and Austria during and after the “Islamic Revolution” (also known as the “Iranian Revolution”).

Satrapi would later co-direct (with Vincent Paronnaud) the animated feature film, Persepolis, an adaptation of the graphic novels. The film was released in 2007. Satrapi became the first woman to be nominated for a “Best Animated Feature” Oscar, when the film was nominated for the 80th Academy Awards.

French comics publisher, L'Assocation, published Persepolis as four graphic novels. In 2004, Pantheon Books published the four graphic novels as two English-language graphic novels: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return.

In 2006, Pantheon sent me a review copy of the 2004 reprint edition of the first volume. I am re-posting the review of the book that I originally wrote for another website:

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Although its American edition is two years old, Persepolis is worthy of continuous discussion. Cartoonist Marjane Satrapi tells the story of her childhood, growing up in late 70’s and early 80’s Iran, under the oppressive regime of the Shah (Part 1), and, then, the perilous existence during years of the Islamic Revolution and the Iran/Iraq War (Part 2).

For the U.S. edition, Pantheon combined Parts 1 and 2 into Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (The American edition Persepolis 2 combines Parts 3 and 4). L’Association, the French publishing house, originally published Persepolis in French, and Satrapi’s husband, Mattias Ripa, translated Part 1 into English with Blake Ferris translating Part 2.

Satrapi’s narrative is a mixture of several ingredients that enrich her story. She blends the history of Iran (Persepolis was an ancient ceremonial capitol of Persia, now known as Iran) with her family’s history. She places her ambitions next to those of her parents, and her view of religion and faith often clashes with theirs.

Parts of her story are a document of the world in which she lives, and much of the story is also internal and separate from an outside reality. Satrapi makes Iran’s recent history engaging by putting human faces on it, and makes her fictional self more interesting and a fuller character by putting herself in the context of larger events.

Satrapi draws in a simple, flexible, pliable line, and uses blocks of black to create simple forms and recognizable shapes. This makes for an uncomplicated, but universal comics language. Comparable to Maus, Persepolis is an excellent comic book that reveals the diversity and breath of comics storytelling. If only the real powers-in-charge of big American comics publishing attempted works like Persepolis.

A+

10 out of 10

EDITED with additions to the 2006 original review: Sunday, June 7, 2026

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

You can read the complete "Persepolis" in "THE COMPLETE PERSEPOIS: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, which is available at Amazon.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OnzY1OgwUE0XPAHpqlcvQ

https://x.com/PantheonBooks

https://www.instagram.com/penguinrandomhouse

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Saturday, June 6, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: ELVIRA IN MONSTERLAND #2

ELVIRA IN MONSTERLAND VOLUME 1 #2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone

ART: Kewber Baal

COLORS: Walter Pereya

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Dave Acosta with Walter Pereya

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2023)

Rated Teen+

Chapter Two: “Frankie Goes to Hollywood”

In 1981, actress and model Cassandra Peterson created the “horror hostess character,” known as “Elvira.” Elvira gradually grew in popularity and eventually became a brand name. As Elvira, Peterson endorsed many products and became a pitch-woman, appearing in numerous television commercials throughout the 1980s.

Elvira also appeared in comic books, beginning in 1986 with the short-lived series from DC Comics, Elvira's House of Mystery. In 2018, Elvira returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment. Elvira's latest comic book series is Elvira in Monsterland Volume 1. The series is written by David Avallone; drawn by Kewber Baal; colored by Walter Pereyra; and lettered by Taylor Esposito. The series finds Elvira returning to the Multiverse of Movies (a bunch of “pocket dimensions” created by the existence of movies) in order to stop Vlad the Impaler and the creation of a monster army.

Elvira in Monsterland Volume 1 #2 (“Frankie Goes to Hollywood”) opens in the universe of director Carl Laemmle, Jr.'s 1931 film, Frankenstein. And Elvira finds the hands of the title character around her neck, but she has bigger problems – believe it or not.

Elvira's arch-enemy, Vlad the Impaler – the original Count Dracula – is raiding the Multiverse of Movies in order to convince a bevy of famous film monsters into joining him in the creation of a monster army. He is also willing to kidnap and snatch-up. Can Elvira stop Vlad – this time – before he makes off with actor Boris Karloff as Frankenstein. Meanwhile, Elvira begins to wonder if Vlad is really the mastermind behind this.

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Elvira in Monsterland Volume 1 #2, one of many Dynamite/David Avallone Elvira comic books that I have read and enjoyed.

I like black and white horror movies, especially of the variety known as “Universal Monsters,” so I find myself delightfully entertained by “Frankie Goes to Hollywood.” I also like how writer David Avallone makes even Vlad the Impaler a funny guy. Obviously, he's the villain, but there is a dexterity in the way Avallone depicts him. He's isn't just bad muscle.

Artist Kewber Baal's art perfectly captures the humor of Elvira, the witty dialogue of Elvira, and the cleavage of Elvira. Avallone's Elvira's comic books are a high-spirited affair, and Baal's storytelling hits the heights. Colorist Walter Pereyra and letterer Taylor Esposito also contribute to the liveliness of this funky chapter.

Elvira in Monsterland Volume 1 #2 offers a passing reference to Return of the Jedi (1983) in addition to the Universal references. There is even a setup reference via An American Werewolf in London (1981). So let's return for some more fun, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Elvira and of David Avallone's Elvira comic books will want to read Elvira in Monsterland Volume 1.

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

https://twitter.com/DAvallone

https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics

https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/

https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w

https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment

This second issue is collected in the collection, "ELVIRA IN MONSTERLAND," which is available in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback editions at Amazon.

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Thursday, June 4, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: VATICAN CITY #3

VATICAN CITY #3 (OF 3)

DARK HORSE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Per Berg

COLORS: Per Berg

LETTERS: Per Berg

EDITOR: Daniel Chabon

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Per Berg

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Per Berg

32pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (June 2025)

Rating: 18+

Vatican City created by Mark Millar at Netflix

Vatican City is a three-issue Millarworld miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. It is created and written by Mark Millar and drawn, colored, and lettered by Per Berg. Vatican City is set in a world overrun by vampires, except for Vatican City, which is the main target of the vampires.

Vatican City finds the vampire race revealing itself for the first time in ages. Their goal is “Vatican City,” the independent city-state within Rome, Italy that is the government of the “Holy See” (the Pope and the Papacy). Now, Guido Cavelti, recently of the Swiss Air Force, leads the human resistance to an invasion of monsters determined to get something that is buried deep beneath Vatican City.

Vatican City #3 opens in Vatican City, Rome. Guido Cavelti believes that he now has some leverage to save the remaining humans inside the iconic Vatican church, St Peter's Basilica, from the vampire horde that surrounds the Vatican. That leverage exists in the form of the sarcophagus that holds the body of “Gel-Gorge-Eh,” the vampire queen, and the vampires want that body in order to revive her.

However, things don't go as expected for either these last few humans or the vampires. Can prayer save the day?

THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. The latest received is Vatican City #3.

As I expected, writer Mark Millar throws this huge curve ball in this final issue of Vatican City. Call it a shocker, twist, or surprise, but it completely wrecked my expectations. How this narrative resolves is also a big surprise. The point is that Millar once again delivers sterling genre entertainment.

Per Berg (also known as Per Darwin Berg or by the pen name, “Narwhal”) delivers a finale that is both dreamlike and surreal. His art, colors, and letters are both representational and impressionistic, which, from the beginning, allowed Berg to depict a world that was rapidly shifting from the natural to the supernatural. He created a sense of uncertainty in a genre – vampire fiction – in which many storytellers often try to be literal and conservative even in the most fantastic scenarios. Here, instead, Berg offers the unusual.

Millar and Berg gave readers a reason to come back for the third issue, and now, they've given us a reason to come back for the trade paperback collection, which is due this fall. I suggest that you, dear readers, read this anyway you can.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar, of vampire comic books, and of horror apocalypse will want to read Vatican City.

★★★★ out of 4 stars

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

"Vatican City #3" is reprinted in the trade paperback collection, "VATICAN CITY," which is available at Amazon.

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

https://x.com/mrmarkmillar

https://x.com/netflix

http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/

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Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Katie Skelly Talks "HEAVEN" with Fantagraphics' Eric Reynolds

Fantagraphics Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds, talked to cartoonist and comics creator, Katie Skelly, about her upcoming graphic novel, Heaven, a month ago. You can find out more information about Heaven, including the ability to preorder or order the graphic novel at Fantgraphics. The book is currently due July 7, 2026.

You can also preorder or order "Heaven" at Amazon.

The YouTube video of the Eric Reynolds-Katie Skelly Q&A is posted below:

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#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 5 #3

THE MAGIC ORDER 5 #3 (OF 6)

DARK HORSE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Matteo Buffagni

COLORS: Giovanna Niro

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITOR: Daniel Chabon

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Matteo Buffagni with Giovanna Niro

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Matteo Buffagni

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2024)

Rating: 18+

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

“The Death of Cordelia Moonstone”

The Magic Order 5 is a six-issue miniseries from writer Mark Millar and artist Matteo Buffagni. This is the fifth installment of The Magic Order series, which began with the 2018-19 miniseries written by Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel. The Magic Order is a band of sorcerers, magicians, and wizards – with a focus on the Moonstone family and its leader, Cordelia Moonstone – that live ordinary lives by day, but protect humanity from darkness and monsters of impossible sizes by night. Colorist Giovanna Niro and letterer Clem Robins complete the series creative team.

The Magic Order 5 finds Cordelia preparing for her death – the punishment for using black magic (back in Volume 1). However, a new case has dropped itself in front of her, but it all may be a front for some really bad people trying to collect the price on Cordelia's head. The end is coming in three days.

The Magic Order 5 #3 opens on a lonely, rural Vermont road. “Skin-Walker Sam,” the magical hit-man, makes his latest move in a track that will bring him closer to his target, Cordelia Moonstone. Meanwhile, Cordelia believes that she has uncovered the identity of the entities behind the kidnapping of male toddlers from across the country. The “why” is horrific, especially because the perpetrators were supposedly destroyed by The Magic Order long ago.

Later, when a walk in the city turns into a dog day afternoon, Cordelia will have to rely on a really bad hombre, Clyde Bailey, to save her life. Meanwhile, Sister Moon is sending someone to claim the magic world's most attractive bounty.

THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. The latest received is The Magic Order 5 #3.

I have often said that The Magic Order is my favorite of the titles that Mark Millar has created for Netflix since it bought Millarworld. Millar has filled this franchise with surprises, and each issue of The Magic Order 5 gets crazier with the unexpected. The Magic Order has previously been described as “Harry Potter series meets The Godfather,” and if that is true, then, it is more like The Godfather. I will say that adults who have to tolerate Harry Potter only because of their kids will find that someone has created a supernatural drama and crime thriller just for them.

The art team of Matteo Buffagni and colorist Giovanna Niro are delivering stellar work early in this series. At the halfway point, Buffagni's storytelling dives deep into the peril of Cordelia Moonstone with Niro's coloring blazing a dazzling path to the finale. As usual, Clem Robins's lettering is the gentle chamber music by which to read this deathwatch.

The Magic Order 5 is plotting something mind-bending; that I know, dear readers. Don't miss the twenty-first century's best American comic book about wizards and sorcerers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 5.

A+

10 out of 10

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

The Magic Order Volume 5 is currently available via a Kindle edition at Amazon.

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar

https://twitter.com/netflix

https://twitter.com/themagicorder

http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/

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I Reads You

Thursday, June 11, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: NIGHT CLUB II #5

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Original Graphic Novel, "THE WRATH OF KARAPACE," is Now Available at Amazon

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: PERSEPOLIS: The Story of a Childhood

Saturday, June 6, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: ELVIRA IN MONSTERLAND #2

Thursday, June 4, 2026

#IReadsYou Review: VATICAN CITY #3

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Katie Skelly Talks "HEAVEN" with Fantagraphics' Eric Reynolds

#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 5 #3

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