Saturday, March 31, 2018

I Reads You Juniors March 2018 - Update #61

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From BleedingCool:  "The Amazing Spider-Man #798" speculator clown show continues.

From THR:  "Justice League: No Justice" is a four-issue, weekly comic book miniseries that will affect the direction of the DCU.

From CatholicUniverse:  Catholic comic book creators have started a Kickstarter to raise money for a 50-page, full-color, "pro-life" graphic novel.

From TheOuthousers:  Sherard Jackson talks about his webcomic, "Darbi."

From Syfy:  Jimmy Palmiotti talks about the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign (which has already reached its goal) for a horror graphic novel, "Killing Time in America."

From Newsweek:  Marvel well begin publishing a "Fantastic Four" comic book again in August 2018 with writer Dan Slott and artist Sara Pichelli as the creative team.

From BleedingCool:  "Death of the Inhumans" in July.

From DCComicsBlog:  DC Comics signs Frank Miller to a five-project deal.

From BleedingCool:  Veteran comic book writer-artist William Messner-Loebs is currently homeless... and has one arm!

From BleedingCool:  Award-winning novelist Margaret Atwood and comic book artist unite for the comic book miniseries, "War Bears."

From BleedingCool:  Gail Simone talks about bringing together Tarzan and Red Sonja in a new comic book.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #156 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #156 in French.

From PublishersWeekly:  DC Comics signs Frank Miller to an exclusive book deal that is part of a larger strategy to increase its presence in the bookstore market.

From BleedingCool:  Classic horror comics character, Swamp Thing, is getting a redesign for his appearance in the new "Justice League Dark" comic book series.

From BleedingCool:  Julie Benson and Shawna Benson will be the new writers on "Green Lantern" beginning with "Green Lantern Annual 2."

From BleedingCool:  Only the first issue of "DC Nation #0" will cost .25 cents.

From Vibe:  Comic Book Anthology "Puerto Rico Strong" To Donate Proceeds To Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts

From PBSNewsHour:  Opinion: Why ‘Black Panther’ and other comic books belong in the classroom

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press solicitations for June 2018

From ComicBookBin:  New web comic - Johnny Bullet episode #155 in English
From ComicBookBin:  New web comic - Johnny Bullet episode #155 in French

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing solicitations for June 2018

From ComicsBeat:  Your crash course guide to DC’s new SANDMAN UNIVERSE line

From BleedingCool:  Archie meets "Batman '66" in... what else... "Archie Meets Batman '66."

From MonkeysFightingRobots:  "Free Comic Book Day" is not free for the retailers that offer comic books.  Diamond Distributors is offering some relief on those costs for FCBD 2018.

From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics will publish comic books that tie-in with Pixar's upcoming 3D animated film, "The Incredible 2."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics to translate and publish manga based on Batman and the Justice League.

From ComicBook:  The current "Marvel 2-in-One" will introduce new Fantastic Four costumes.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics has a plan to make retailers over-order on "A Fresh Start."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics launches a new line of collections called "Essential Edition."

From Newsarama:  Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" returns to comic books via Dabel Brothers this fall.  Eclipse Books previously adapted the fantasy novel series into comics in 1991.

From BlackEnterprise:  Jazmin Truesdale has created Aza Comics, an all-female superhero comic book universe.

From BleedingCool:  There will be a new "Hawkman" monthly comic book written by Robert Vendetti and drawn by Bryan Hitch. [Good luck with that. - Editor]

From BleedingCool:  Chip Zdarsky Goes Marvel Exclusive

From SanDiegoUnionTribune:  With 'Black Panther' and 'Black Lightning' emerging, the 'Encyclopedia of Black Comics' is here to help

From Ohio: 23-year-old Jimmy Scott was killed in 1966.  His family hung onto his collection of over 1100 comic books, many of them key Silver Age issues.  Jimmy's family recently sold the collection to a comic book store in Canal Fulton, Ohio.

From Brightly: 12 Things Parents and Educators Should Know About Manga for Middle Schoolers

From BleedingCool:  100 most ordered comic books and 100 top graphic novels for February 2018.

From TheHollywoodReporter:  DC Comics announces a new imprint, "Black Label."  It will place the best creators with established characters for out-of-continuity stories.  "Superman: Year One" written by Frank Miller and drawn by John Romita, Jr. was one of the first announced titles.

From Newsarama:  February 2018 comic book sales are down, but with a caveat.

From Comicsverse:  Princess Leia manga arrives on "Star Wars Day."

From BleedingCool: Rich Tommaso giving us a really "special edition" of Clover Honey."

From BleedingCool:  Netflix acquires Rob Liefeld's "Extreme Universe" of characters.

From BleedingCool:   Former Marvel Comics editor and writer is now an editor at Valiant Entertainment.

From BleedingCool:  Chris Ryall steps down as Editor-in-Chief as IDW Publishing.

From TheHollywoodReporter:  Brian Michael Bendis has announced two new titles from "Jinxworld" (his creator-owned imprint), including one that reunites him with his "Alias" cohort, Michael Gaydos.  Both will be published by Bendis' new home, DC Comics.

From ComicBook:  Marvel will reinvent the origins of Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers.

From BleedingCool:  Mark Buckingham is adapting four Neil Gaiman stories for a graphic novel anthology from Dark Horse Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Illustrator J. Scott Campbell is the latest comic book star to express concern over the recent turns of events concerning legendary comic book creator and editor, Stan Lee.

From TheGuardian:  "Neil Gaiman is to oversee a new line of comic books set in the world of the Sandman, continuing the adventures of some of his best-loved characters including Dream of the Endless and Lucien the librarian."

From WCET:  Comic book store, "Memory Lane Comics and Toys" in Wilmington, NC, sees uptick in business after release of 'Black Panther'

From TokyoReporter: Manga artist Nobuhiro Nishiwaki fined for possessing child pornography

From Asahi:  Mongolians irate over manga showing penis on Genghis Khan

From BleedingCool:  To help alleviate the risk retailers take, Dark Horse Comics is expanding "returnability" of new titles.

From JapanToday:  In 2017, online sales of manga surpassed print editions for the first time.

From TheAtlantic:  Ta-Nehisi Coates explains why he is writing Marvel Comics "Captain America," with his first issue appearing Summer 2018.

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics Sends Care Packages to Comic Book Stores

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press is publishing a new edition of Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover's all-ages comic, "Banana Sundays."

From BleedingCool:  Diamond Brings Spinner Racks Back to Comic Stores


STAN LEE MELODRAMA:

From TheDailyMail:  Stan Lee fires manager and his nurse who gave him naked showers over 'plot to estrange him from his daughter and sole heir' as cops probe missing millions and he battles pneumonia

From TheDailyBeast: ‘Picked Apart by Vultures’: The Last Days of Stan Lee


Friday, March 30, 2018

Review: NICK FURY #1

NICK FURY No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Robinson
PENCILS: ACO
INKS: Hugh Petrus
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: ACO
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Greg Land with Frank D'Armata; Mark Morales with Jason Keith; Bill Sienkiewicz
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Rated “T+”

“The Sky High Caper”

Nick Fury (Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury) is a Marvel Comics character.  Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (cover dated:  May 1963), a World War II combat comic book series, in which Fury was depicted as a cigar-chomping, leader of an elite United States Army unit.

Marvel Comics introduced the modern Nick Fury in Fantastic Four #21 (cover dated:  December 1963), making him a CIA agent.  In Strange Tales #135 (cover dated:  August 1965), the character again transformed, this time from a spy into the leading agent of the fictional espionage agency, S.H.I.E.L.D.  In 2002, Nick Fury became a Black man that resembled actor Samuel L. Jackson in The Ultimates #1.  Jackson would portray Fury in the Marvel Studios movies based on Marvel Comics, and the Jackson-lookalike Fury would replace the original white Fury in the main Marvel Universe.

That Sam Jackson Fury is the star of the new comic book series, Nick Fury.  It is written by James Robinson; drawn by ACO (pencils) and Hugh Petrus (inks); colored by Rachelle Rosenberg; and lettered by Travis Lanham.

Nick Fury #1 (“The Sky High Caper”) opens with Nick Fury arriving in the French Riviera, where he must infiltrate the most secure parts of a imposing casino.  Fury's target is a hidden data-stash belonging to Auric Goodfellow, a Hydra moneyman.  Fury will likely be successful in getting what he wants, but Frankie Noble, Agent of Hydra plans on standing in his way.

I love the art in Nick Fury #1.  Drawn by the artist known as ACO, the art recalls the Pop-Art infused comic book art that legendary comic book artist Jim Steranko produced during his run of Nick Fury comics in the late 1960.  ACO's layout and design also recall Steve Rude's layout and design on his long-running comic book series, Nexus.  ACO's art for Nick Fury combined with Rachelle Rosenberg's pastel-lite coloring sure is pretty.

However, the storytelling is shallow when it isn't confusing and confusing when it isn't shallow.  As graphical storytelling, ACO's art is just too busy.  Yeah, it is eye-candy to look at, but is a busy mess as storytelling.  Honestly, if writer James Robinson had even attempted to tell a more complex story, there is no telling how crowded ACO would have made his art.

I think James Robinson offers in Nick Fury what Chris Samnee did in the first issue of his recent Black Widow comic book – an introductory issue that reads like a two-minute-egg version of an action sequence from a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie.

Honestly, I'll try the second issue of Nick Fury, although I never tried the second issue of Samnee's Black Widow.

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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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Review: BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW #1

BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Ta-Nehisi Coates
PENCILS: Butch Guice
INKS: Scott Hanna
COLORS: Dan Brown
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: John Cassaday with Laura Martin
VARIANT COVERS: Rich Buckler; Jim Cheung with Jason Keith; John Tyler Christopher; Tom Palmer with Rachelle Rosenberg; Damian Scott with John Rauch
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Rated “T+”

“We are the Streets” Part 1 “Double Consciousness”

Although it was only published for seven issues in 2003, the comic book, The Crew, is apparently fondly remembered by some readers (myself among them) and comic book writers.  Written by Christopher Priest and drawn by Joe Bennett, The Crew featured four hardened heroes who band together to fight for an impoverished neighborhood.

The Crew is the inspiration for the latest expansion of Marvel Comics' Black Panther line of comic books, Black Panther and The Crew.  This new series is written Ta-Nehisi Coates; drawn by Butch Guice (pencils) and Scott Hanna (inks); colored by Dan Brown; and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Black Panther and The Crew #1 (“Double Consciousness”) opens in The Bronx in 1957 with a tale of Ezra Keith and his “crew.”  The story moves to present day Harlem for the funeral of Ezra, who was killed while in police custody.  Ezra's family has asked Misty Knight to investigate, but Knight is conflicted because of her ties to law enforcement.  However, Misty is forced to admit that something is officially wrong and unites with the X-Men's Storm to fight the forces arrayed against her.

Apparently, writer Yona Harvey will script every other issue of this series, which means she will write Black Panther and The Crew #2 with Ta-Nehisi Coates returning for the third issue.  I hope Harvey is as good as Coates is on this first issue, and I'm saying that considering that I did not expect much from the first issue.  But I'm impressed and look forward to more.

Black Panther and The Crew #1 reads like one of those crime comic books published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint or Image Comics and written by someone like Ed Brubaker or Brian Azzarello.  Coates offers a sharply written urban drama that is complicated about complex matters.  Black people vs. cops – it is not so clear cut simply because there are so many players and groups of players involved with their own goals and motivations.

I like Butch Guice's pencil art; it is his storytelling that realizes Coates' script as a multi-layered, street-level superhero drama.  I have always thought that Guice's talent was underutilized, but here he gets to show the scope of his graphical storytelling abilities.  I highly recommend trying at least the first issue of Black Panther and The Crew.

A

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


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

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Monday, March 26, 2018

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for March 28, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

JAN181347    ABBOTT #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN181371    ADVENTURE TIME BMO BONANZA #1    $7.99
JAN181335    JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #2 (OF 12)    $3.99
JAN181336    JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #2 (OF 12) SUBSCRIPTION ISAA    $3.99
JAN181346    LUCAS STAND INNER DEMONS #2 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
JAN181369    LUMBERJANES #48    $3.99
JAN181370    LUMBERJANES #48 SUBSCRIPTION WONG VAR    $3.99
NOV171352    LUMBERJANES BONUS TRACKS TP    $14.99
JAN181312    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #25 POLYBAG MIX SG    $4.99
JAN181313    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #25 SUBSCRIPTION GIBSON VAR SG    $4.99
JAN181352    PLANET OF THE APES URSUS #3 MAIN & MIX    $3.99
JAN181353    PLANET OF THE APES URSUS #3 SUBSCRIPTION CAREY VAR    $3.99
JAN181328    RUGRATS #6    $3.99
JAN181329    RUGRATS #6 SUBSCRIPTION CHARM VAR    $3.99
NOV171371    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING TP VOL 02 PUNCHING UP    $14.99
NOV171311    WWE THEN NOW FOREVER TP VOL 01    $16.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 28, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV170058    BLOOD BLOCKADE BATTLEFRONT TP VOL 09    $12.99
JAN180124    BTVS SEASON 11 GILES #2 JOVELLANOS VAR    $3.99
JAN180123    BTVS SEASON 11 GILES #2 MAIN    $3.99
NOV170045    CRASH BANDICOOT FILES HC    $29.99
JAN180113    HUNGRY GHOSTS #3 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
APR170129    WITCHER 3 WILD HUNT FIGURE DANDELION    $39.99
APR170128    WITCHER 3 WILD HUNT FIGURE SHANI    $39.99
NOV170046    WORLD OF WARCRAFT CHRONICLE HC VOL 03    $39.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 28, 2018

DC COMICS

JAN180256    BATGIRL #21    $3.99
JAN180257    BATGIRL #21 VAR ED    $3.99
DEC170375    BATGIRL TP VOL 03 SUMMER OF LIES REBIRTH    $16.99
DEC170384    BATMAN 66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN 77 TP    $16.99
JAN180271    BATMAN BEYOND #18    $3.99
JAN180272    BATMAN BEYOND #18 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170452    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE BATMAN SPY STATUE BY KUPER    $80.00
DEC170389    BATMAN GOTHIC TP NEW EDITION    $16.99
DEC170388    BATMAN NOIR THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN HC    $39.99
DEC170230    DARK NIGHTS METAL #6 (OF 6)    $4.99
DEC170231    DARK NIGHTS METAL #6 (OF 6) DANIEL VAR ED    $4.99
DEC170232    DARK NIGHTS METAL #6 (OF 6) KUBERT VAR ED    $4.99
DEC170233    DARK NIGHTS METAL #6 (OF 6) LEE VAR ED    $4.99
DEC170392    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS TP VOL 06 WAR STORIES    $16.99
SEP170412    DC SUPER HERO GIRLS BOXED SET    $34.99
JAN180280    DEMON HELL IS EARTH #5 (OF 6)    $2.99
JAN180285    DETECTIVE COMICS #977    $2.99
JAN180286    DETECTIVE COMICS #977 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN188630    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #1 (OF 12) 3RD PTG    $4.99
DEC170234    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #4 (OF 12)    $4.99
DEC170235    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #4 (OF 12) VAR ED    $4.99
JAN180289    FLASH #43    $2.99
JAN180290    FLASH #43 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN180292    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #12    $2.99
SEP170414    GREEN LANTERN THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 02    $125.00
DEC170378    GREEN LANTERNS TP VOL 05 OUT OF TIME REBIRTH    $16.99
JAN180301    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #41    $2.99
JAN180302    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #41 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC170394    HAWK AND DOVE THE SILVER AGE TP    $24.99
JAN180309    HELLBLAZER #20    $3.99
JAN180310    HELLBLAZER #20 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180412    IMAGINARY FIENDS #5 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180319    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #27    $2.99
JAN180320    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #27 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN180371    LOONEY TUNES #242    $2.99
JAN180253    MERA QUEEN OF ATLANTIS #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN180247    MOTHER PANIC GOTHAM A D #1 (MR)    $3.99
JAN180248    MOTHER PANIC GOTHAM A D #1 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN180414    MOTHERLANDS #3 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180415    MOTHERLANDS #3 (OF 6) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN180323    MYSTIK U #3 (OF 3)    $5.99
JAN180331    RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #3 (OF 12)    $3.99
JAN180367    RUFF & REDDY SHOW #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN180368    RUFF & REDDY SHOW #6 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180372    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #36    $2.99
JAN180241    SILENCER #3    $2.99
JAN180336    SUICIDE SQUAD #38    $2.99
JAN180337    SUICIDE SQUAD #38 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN180346    TEEN TITANS #18    $3.99
JAN180347    TEEN TITANS #18 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180242    TERRIFICS #2    $2.99
JAN180352    TRINITY #20    $3.99
JAN180353    TRINITY #20 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180356    WONDER WOMAN #43    $2.99
JAN180357    WONDER WOMAN #43 VAR ED    $2.99

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for March 28, 2018

D. E.

JAN181533    BSG VS BSG #3 (OF 6) CVR A LEBOWITZ    $3.99
JAN181534    BSG VS BSG #3 (OF 6) CVR B DESJARDINS    $3.99
JAN181535    BSG VS BSG #3 (OF 6) CVR C TIGH ACTION FIGURE    $3.99
JAN181536    BSG VS BSG #3 (OF 6) CVR D CASTRO BALTAR SPLIT    $3.99
JAN181545    GAME OF THRONES CLASH OF KINGS #9 CVR A MILLER (MR)    $3.99
JAN181546    GAME OF THRONES CLASH OF KINGS #9 CVR B RUBI (MR)    $3.99
JAN181550    GREEN HORNET 66 MEETS SPIRIT TP    $19.99
JAN181555    KISS AOD #2 (OF 5) CVR A STRAHM    $3.99
JAN181556    KISS AOD #2 (OF 5) CVR B MONTES    $3.99
JAN181557    KISS AOD #2 (OF 5) CVR C HAESER    $3.99
JAN181560    MAGNUS BETWEEN TWO WORLDS TP    $19.99
NOV171533    PIERCE BROWN RED RISING SON OF ARES HC SGN ED    $39.99
JAN181578    SHEENA #7 CVR A SANAPO    $3.99
JAN181579    SHEENA #7 CVR B DUURSEMA    $3.99
JAN181580    SHEENA #7 CVR C GALINDO    $3.99
JAN181581    SHEENA #7 CVR D COSPLAY    $3.99