Monday, June 11, 2018

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

D. E.

MAR181420    ASH VS THE ARMY OF DARKNESS TP    $19.99
APR180942    DEJAH THORIS #5 CVR A MCKONE    $3.99
APR180943    DEJAH THORIS #5 CVR B CHEN    $3.99
APR180944    DEJAH THORIS #5 CVR C DAVILA    $3.99
APR180953    GREATEST ADVENTURE HC    $29.99
APR180901    NANCY DREW #1 CVR A LOTAY    $3.99
APR180902    NANCY DREW #1 CVR B SAUVAGE    $3.99
APR180903    NANCY DREW #1 CVR C WU    $3.99
APR180904    NANCY DREW #1 CVR D SUBSCRIPTION ST ONGE VAR    $3.99
JAN181494    PATHFINDER RUNESCARS HC VOL 06    $29.99
APR181013    XENA #5 (OF 5) CVR A DAVILA    $3.99
APR181014    XENA #5 (OF 5) CVR B CIFUENTES    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR180523    30 DAYS OF NIGHT #6 (OF 6) CVR A TEMPLESMITH    $3.99
MAR180524    30 DAYS OF NIGHT #6 (OF 6) CVR B KOWALSKI & FOLNY    $3.99
MAR180546    ATOMIC ROBO & THE SPECTRE OF TOMORROW TP    $17.99
MAR180440    BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME TRAIN #6 CVR A LEVENS    $3.99
MAR180441    BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME TRAIN #6 CVR B MURPHY    $3.99
FEB180480    CLOUD HOTEL TP    $19.99
MAR180502    DUCKTALES #9 CVR A GHIGLIONE    $3.99
MAR180503    DUCKTALES #9 CVR B GHIGLIONE    $3.99
MAR180483    MY LITTLE PONY CUTIE RE-MARK TP    $7.99
DEC170511    TANGLED #2 (OF 3) CVR A SAITO    $3.99
DEC170512    TANGLED #2 (OF 3) CVR B MAGRUDER    $3.99
MAR180464    TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #18 CVR A LAWRENCE    $3.99
MAR180465    TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #18 CVR B MILNE    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

APR180564    ANALOG #3 CVR A O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
APR180565    ANALOG #3 CVR B MCREA & SPICER (MR)    $3.99
MAR180636    BEAUTY TP VOL 04 (MR)    $16.99
APR180490    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR A FIFFE (MR)    $3.99
APR188125    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR B LIEFELD (MR)    $3.99
APR188126    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR C FRAGA (MR)    $3.99
APR188127    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR D FRAGA B&W (MR)    $3.99
MAR180654    COPPERHEAD #19 (MR)    $3.99
APR180575    DEAD HAND #3 (MR)    $3.99
APR180578    DEATH OF LOVE #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
APR180583    DRY COUNTY #4 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170671    FIX #12 (MR)    $3.99
APR180594    I HATE FAIRYLAND #19 CVR A YOUNG (MR)    $3.99
APR180595    I HATE FAIRYLAND #19 CVR B F*CK (UNCENSORED) FAIRYLAND VAR (    $3.99
APR188160    ISOLA #1 3RD PTG    $3.99
APR188161    ISOLA #2 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR180607    IT WILL ALL HURT TP    $18.99
APR180600    KICK-ASS #5 CVR A ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
APR180601    KICK-ASS #5 CVR B B&W ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
APR180602    KICK-ASS #5 CVR C YILDIRIM (MR)    $3.99
APR180604    MAGE HERO DENIED #9 (OF 15)    $3.99
APR180455    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR A COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
APR180456    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR B B&W COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
APR180457    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR C HUGHES (MR)    $3.99
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MAR180714    MONSTRESS #17 (MR)    $3.99
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APR180614    PORT OF EARTH #6    $3.99
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APR180623    ROSE #12 CVR A GUARA    $3.99
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APR180557    SLOTS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $16.99
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APR180465    WEATHERMAN #1 CVR B MARTIN (MR)    $3.99
APR188131    WEATHERMAN #1 CVR C 25 COPY INCV SCALERA (MR)    $3.99
MAR180771    WITCHBLADE #6 (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

MARVEL COMICS

APR188001    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #797 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR    $3.99
MAR188858    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 2ND PTG ARTIST VAR LEG    $9.99
MAR180988    ASTONISHING ANT-MAN COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $34.99
MAR181008    DAKOTA NORTH TP DESIGN FOR DYING    $29.99
APR180716    DEADPOOL ASSASSIN #1 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR180717    DEADPOOL ASSASSIN #1 (OF 6) SIENKIEWICZ VAR    $4.99
MAR180992    DEFENDERS TP VOL 02 KINGPINS OF NEW YORK    $15.99
APR180821    DOMINO #3    $3.99
APR180824    EXILES #4    $3.99
MAR188836    HUNT FOR WOLVERINE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG SILVA    $3.99
APR180732    HUNT FOR WOLVERINE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
APR180733    HUNT FOR WOLVERINE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #2 (OF 4) SILVA VAR    $3.99
APR180747    INFINITY COUNTDOWN DARKHAWK #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
APR180748    INFINITY COUNTDOWN DARKHAWK #2 (OF 4) MCKONE HEADSHOT VAR    $3.99
MAR181001    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN IRONHEART TP VOL 02 CHOICES    $19.99
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APR180721    MARVEL RISING ALPHA #1 GONZALES CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
APR180776    MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL #1    $4.99
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APR180762    PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #305    $3.99
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APR180752    QUICKSILVER NO SURRENDER #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR180863    SHIELD BY HICKMAN AND WEAVER #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
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APR180835    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #17    $3.99
APR180837    STAR WARS THRAWN #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
APR180649    THOR #1    $5.99
MAR181007    THOR EPIC COLLECTION TP WORLDENGINE    $39.99
APR180781    TRUE BELIEVERS ANT-MAN & WASP TIL DEATH DO US PART #1    $1.00
APR180780    TRUE BELIEVERS ANT-MAN & WASP TRAIL OF SPIDER-MAN #1    $1.00
APR180788    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #33    $3.99
APR180768    VENOM #2    $3.99
APR180828    WEEKND PRESENTS STARBOY #1 (MR)    $3.99
APR180807    X-MEN BLUE #29    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR181953    AFTER HOURS GN VOL 02    $9.99
APR182031    AGAIN GN VOL 03    $12.99
APR182032    AHO GIRL (CLUELESS GIRL) GN VOL 07    $12.99
FEB181029    ANIMOSITY EVOLUTION #6 (MR)    $3.99
APR181318    ARCHIE AND ME COMICS DIGEST #8    $6.99
APR181334    AWAKEN SKIES #0 CVR A LORENZANA    $1.50
APR181335    AWAKEN SKIES #0 CVR B CAMPETELLA    $1.50
APR181317    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #262    $6.99
MAR181072    BABYTEETH #11 (MR)    $3.99
APR181225    BABYTEETH TP VOL 02    $14.99
APR181579    BAD MOON RISING COMPLETE GRAPHIC NOVEL TP    $19.99
APR181680    BALLAD OF SANG #4 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
MAR181651    BERSERKER GN VOL 01    $14.99
APR181238    BETROTHED #4    $3.99
APR181309    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #7 (OF 10) CVR A JEN VAUGHN    $3.99
APR181310    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #7 (OF 10) CVR B ANWAR    $3.99
APR181311    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #7 (OF 10) CVR C MOK    $3.99
APR181859    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #10 (NEW ARC) CVR A ROCAFORT    $3.99
APR181860    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #10 (NEW ARC) CVR B GUEDES    $3.99
MAR181875    CAPTIVE HEARTS OF OZ GN VOL 04    $13.99
APR181642    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #11    $3.99
APR181644    CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #8    $3.99
MAR181876    CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC RAILGUN GN VOL 13 (RES)    $12.99
MAR181848    CHARLEYS WAR DEFINITVE COLL TP VOL 02 BOY SOLDIER    $26.99
APR182107    CITY GN VOL 02    $12.95
MAR181877    CLAUDINE GN (MR)    $13.99
APR181719    COMPLETE FUTURE SHOCKS TP VOL 01    $25.00
APR181314    COSMO THE MERRY MARTIAN COMPLETE TP    $10.99
APR181679    DAMNED #10 (MR)    $3.99
MAR188652    DEEP ROOTS #1 GOODEN VAR (2ND PTG) (MR)    $3.99
MAR182062    DEEP ROOTS #2 CVR A (MR)    $3.99
MAR182063    DEEP ROOTS #2 CVR B RODRIGUES VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAR181878    DEVILMAN GRIMOIRE GN VOL 03    $12.99
FEB181501    DF ACTION COMICS #1000 JIM LEE GOLD SGN ED    $299.99
APR181526    DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #797 COMICXPOSURE EXC CVR    $39.99
JAN181612    DF CABLE #150 SILVER SERIES SIMONSON SGN ED    $19.90
APR181520    DF METAL BATS OUT OF HELL COLL #1 ELITE GOLD SGN VAN SCIVER    $199.99
JAN171734    DF MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #1 RED HIGGINS SGN    $19.93
JUN171656    DF NIGHTWING NEW ORDER #1 HIGGINS SGN    $19.84
MAR181592    DF SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #300 SKETCH HUGHES    $29.99
MAR181602    DF STAR WARS ADVENTURES ANNUAL SGN JACKSON MILLER    $29.99
JUL171854    DF VENOM #6 COMICXPOSURE EXC MATTINA    $29.99
MAR181962    DISNEY MANGA MIRIYA & MARIE GN ARISTOCATS    $12.99
APR181322    FATHOM TP BLUE DESCENT (RES)    $12.99
FEB181050    FILBERT FACTOR #1 REJECTED BY FREE COMIC BOOK DAY BLUEPRINT    $9.99
FEB181051    FILBERT FACTOR #1 REJECTED BY FREE COMIC BOOK DAY MAIN CVR    $3.99
APR181914    FINDER DELUXE ED GN VOL 07 (MR)    $14.99
APR181722    FRACTURED MIND #3    $3.95
MAR181880    FREEZING OMNIBUS GN VOL 11 (MR)    $19.99
APR181287    FRONTIER GRAVEYARD TP    $14.99
MAR181652    FUKUSHIMA DEVIL FISH ANTI NUCLEAR GN    $34.99
MAR181881    GETTER ROBO DEVOLUTION GN VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
JAN182109    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #16 CVR A GOH    $3.99
JAN182110    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #16 CVR B RIVERIO    $3.99
JAN182111    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #16 CVR C KROME    $3.99
JAN182112    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #16 CVR D TOLIBAO    $3.99
APR181635    HUNTERS TP    $19.99
MAR181800    INVADER ZIM #31 CVR A    $3.99
MAR181801    INVADER ZIM #31 CVR B COUSIN VAR    $3.99
APR181340    JIRNI VOLUME 3 #4 CVR A SANTAMARIA    $3.99
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MAR181310    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 (MR)    $5.99
MAR181311    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 IVORY (MR)    $5.99
MAR181332    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 IVORY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181312    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 LORELEI (MR)    $5.99
MAR181327    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 LORELEI NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181314    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 LUCIOUS (MR)    $5.99
MAR181326    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 LUCIOUS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181329    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181321    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 QUEEN SASHA (MR)    $5.99
MAR181315    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 SPACE VIXENS (MR)    $5.99
MAR181325    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 SPACE VIXENS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181319    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 SULTRY (MR)    $5.99
MAR181316    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 SULTRY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181313    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 TUNDRA (MR)    $5.99
MAR181317    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 TUNDRA NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181320    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 VIXENS (MR)    $5.99
MAR181324    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 VIXENS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR181318    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
MAR181323    JUNGLE FANTASY SECRETS #0 WRAP NUDE (MR)    $7.99
APR181670    KAIJUMAX SEASON 4 #1 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
APR181774    KONUNGAR WAR OF CROWNS #1 CVR A RONALD    $5.99
APR181775    KONUNGAR WAR OF CROWNS #1 CVR B JUZHEN    $5.99
APR181371    LADY MECHANIKA TP VOL 04 CLOCKWORK ASSASSIN    $9.99
APR181959    LOVELESS GN VOL 13    $9.99
APR181965    MAGI GN VOL 30    $9.99
MAR181885    MAGIKA SWORDSMAN & SUMMONER GN VOL 09 (MR)    $12.99
MAR181385    MANY DEATHS OF SCOTT KOBLISH HC    $14.95
MAR181886    MASAMUNE KUNS REVENGE GN VOL 08    $12.99
MAR181887    MONONOKE SHARING GN VOL 02    $12.99
APR182094    MUSHROOM GIRLS IN LOVE GN    $13.99
APR181634    ORPHANS GN VOL 01    $19.99
JAN181842    PRE CODE CLASSICS DARK MYSTERIES HC VOL 02    $49.99
JAN181843    PRE CODE CLASSICS DARK MYSTERIES SLIPCASE ED VOL 02    $54.99
JAN181844    PRE CODE CLASSICS WEIRD HORRORS HC VOL 01    $44.99
JAN181845    PRE CODE CLASSICS WEIRD HORRORS SLIPCASE ED HC VOL 01    $54.99
APR181869    QUANTUM & WOODY DLX HC VOL 02    $49.99
FEB181690    QUICK & EASY GUIDE TO THEY THEM PRONOUNS GN    $7.99
APR181576    QUIRKS QUEST HC GN VOL 02 LOST AND THE FOUND    $16.99
APR181749    ROT #2 (OF 3) (MR)    $3.99
APR181812    SEA OF THIEVES #4 (OF 4) CVR A ZANFARDINO    $3.99
APR181813    SEA OF THIEVES #4 (OF 4) CVR B PHOTO    $3.99
APR181803    SEASON OF THE SNAKE #3 (OF 3)    $6.99
APR181389    SIMPSONS COMICS COLOSSAL COMPENDIUM TP VOL 06    $18.99
APR181939    SLEEPY PRINCESS IN DEMON CASTLE GN VOL 01    $9.99
APR181950    SPLATOON MANGA GN VOL 03    $9.99
APR181392    SPONGEBOB COMICS #81    $3.99
MAR181975    STREET FIGHTER CLASSIC TP VOL 01 ROUND 1 FIGHT    $19.99
MAR181965    SWORD PRINCESS AMALTEA MANGA GN VOL 01    $10.99
MAR181369    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #110 DLX LITHO ED (MR)    $19.99
MAR181899    TO LOVE RU DARKNESS GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
APR182044    TO YOUR ETERNITY GN VOL 05    $12.99
APR181696    TROLLS 3IN1 GN VOL 01    $14.99
APR182020    UDON NOODLE SOUP LITTLE TALES FOR LITTLE THINGS GN    $16.99
JUL171364    UNDERDOG CLASSICS TP VOL 01    $19.99
APR181227    WALK THROUGH HELL #2    $3.99
MAR181638    WEAVER FESTIVAL PHENOMENON HC    $20.00
APR182049    WOTAKOI LOVE IS HARD FOR OTAKU GN VOL 02    $17.99
FEB181776    YUUNA & HAUNTED HOT SPRINGS GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
APR181740    ZINNOBER #1 CVR A    $3.99
APR181741    ZINNOBER #1 CVR B KLEIN    $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAR182210    CINEMA RETRO #41 (MR)    $11.99
NOV171703    HEAVY METAL #290 CVR A QUINTANA (MR)    $8.95
NOV171704    HEAVY METAL #290 CVR B PIERCE (MR)    $8.95
NOV171705    HEAVY METAL #290 CVR C REILLY (MR)    $8.95
MAR181847    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #396    $13.00

BOOKS
MAR181896    CLOCKWORK PLANET LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02    $13.99
APR181605    COMICS EXPERIENCE GUIDE TO WRITING COMICS SC    $22.99
MAR182168    DOCTOR WHO COMP HIST HC VOL 71 11TH DOCTOR STORIES 237-239 (    $18.99
MAR181670    HELLBOY INTO THE SILENT SEA STUDIO ED    $50.00
MAR181669    ILLUSTRATED CALL OF CTHULHU HC    $24.95
MAR182144    JAW COOPER ART BOOK FAMILIARS (MR)    $25.00
MAR182145    JAW COOPER ART BOOK FLORA & FAUNA (MR)    $25.00
MAR182146    JAW COOPER ART BOOK VISCERA (MR)    $25.00
MAY182272    MONSTER MUSUME MONSTER GIRL PAPERCRAFTS SC (RES) (MR)    $17.99
APR181597    NOCTURNALS ANNIVERSARY ART BOOK SC    $14.99
APR181585    OVERSTREET GUIDE SC COLLECTING TABLETOP GAMES    $19.95
APR181609    SKIP TO THE END HC GN    $24.99
APR181592    SPRINGFIELD CONFIDENTIAL A LIFETIME WRITING FOR THE SIMPSONS    $PI
APR181610    STAR TREK OFFICIAL POSTER COLLECTION SC    $19.99
APR182557    WARHAMMER 40K FABIUS BILE CLONELORD PROSE NOVEL SC    $16.00
APR182559    WARHAMMER HORUS HERESY OLD EARTH PROSE NOVEL SC    $18.00
APR182556    WARHAMMER WITCH HUNTER PROSE NOVEL SC    $21.00

Friday, June 8, 2018

Review: DREAMING EAGLES #6

DREAMING EAGLES No. 6 (OF 6)
AFTERSHOCK COMICS – @AfterShockComix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Garth Ennis
ARTIST: Simon Coleby
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Rob Steen
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2016)

For mature readers

Dreaming Eagles created by Garth Ennis

Chapter 6: “A Stone of Hope”

Dreaming Eagles was a comic book miniseries created and written by Garth Ennis.  Published from late 2015 and into 2016, the series was drawn by Simon Coleby; colored by John Kalisz; lettered by Rob Steen, with Francesco Francavilla as the main cover artist.

Published in six issues, Dreaming Eagles tells the story of the first African-American fighter pilots to join the United States Army Air Force during World War II.  The narrative connects the pilots' stories with the 1960s Civil Rights movement through two characters, WWII veteran and USAAF pilot, Lt. Reggie Atkinson, and his son, Lee, a Civil Rights activist.  Lt. Atkinson recounts his experiences as a Black pilot in WWII, including his stint as a member of the “Red Tails,” to Lee.

As Dreaming Eagles #6 (“A Stone of Hope”) opens, Reggie moves the story to his last mission as a member of the Three Thirty-Second Fight Group (the Red Tails), as he and his fellow Black pilots escort U.S. Bombers on a raid into Berlin, Germany.  However, Lt. Atkinson and his friend and fellow pilot, “Fats,” return to the United States and find out that some people still don't consider Black people, even those who have defended the country, to be “Americans.”

Personal issues and sell-outs at the “local” comic book shops delayed me finishing Dreaming Eagles.  I ended up buying issues #3 and #6 on eBay.  Honestly, I did not want Dreaming Eagles to end, but the truth is that the story of the Black pilots and the Red Tails in WWII is a finite one.  As history, however, the story lives on simply because people dedicated to giving Black servicemen and servicewomen who served in WWII their due have been reviving such stories for the past few decades via various media, including books, TV and film documentaries, journalism, research, and fictional movies (such as George Lucas' Red Tails film).

I am not the only one who thinks that people who were born and who lived outside of the United States often see the truth about America's troubled race relations and race issues in a way that is clearer.  Sometimes, non-American see race in America in broader ways than citizens born and raised in the good old U.S. of A.

If Dreaming Eagles has an over-arching theme, it is that the struggle for Black people in America is an ongoing one and that progress isn't a process that ends.  One can't go just so far and then stop when the adversaries of equality and justice seem to make the struggle too hard to continue.  “Just so far” is not enough; the struggle means moving forward.  How far?  Will we know when we get there?  The answer to those questions is to fight as long as there is inequality and injustice.

The progress of the Black pilots in Dreaming Eagles epitomizes that.  Keep soaring, past the boundaries set by those who attempt to hold you back.  Thank you, Mr. Ennis and Mr. Coleby, for reminding us, not just of the WWII Black pilots' stories, but also that “just so far” isn't really far at all.

A+

[This comic book includes a four-page preview of the comic book , “Captain Kid,” by Mark Waid, Tom Peyer, and Wilfredo Torres.  There is also a two-page Q&A between Mike Marts and Ray Fawkes.]

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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Thursday, June 7, 2018

Review: AMERICAN GODS #3

AMERICAN GODS No. 3
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Neil Gaiman
SCRIPT: P. Craig Russell
LAYOUTS: P. Craig Russell
ART: Scott Hampton; Walter Simonson
COLORS: Scott Hampton; Laura Martin
LETTERS: Rick Parker
COVER: Glenn Fabry with Adam Brown
VARIANT COVER: David Mack
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2017)

American Gods is the award-winning, 2001 novel from author Neil Gaiman.  It is now being adapted into a comic book series, published by Dark Horse Comics.  The novel won several fantasy-literary awards, and there is currently a hit television series adapted from the novel and televised on the cable network, Starz Media.  American Gods blends Americana and also ancient and modern mythology to tell the story of a man caught in a war between the gods of the Old World and the new American gods.

The guiding hand behind the American Gods comic book is frequent Gaiman collaborator, P. Craig Russell.  Russell wrote the script adaptation of Gaiman's novel and provided the layouts for the art.  American Gods the comic book is drawn and colored by Scott Hampton and lettered by Rick Parker.

American Gods #3 finds the protagonist, Shadow Moon, and his mysterious employer, Mr. Wednesday, still in Indiana where Shadow attended the funeral of his wife, Laura.  The duo prepares to leave for Chicago the following day, but that night, Shadow has strange, troubling dreams.  Then, he gets a visit from Laura.  Plus, meet the strange fortune tellers of Chicago.

I always feel or think that I have to let you know, dear reader, that I am a big fan of American Gods, although I did not read it upon its original release in 2001.  I read the tenth anniversary edition which featured a longer text – the author's preferred edition.  I also feel that I must admit that I loved that book, and that “love” is not a strong enough word in this case.  American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition is one of my favorite books, and I consider the reading that edition of American Gods to be life-changing event for me in terms of my life as a writer.  True, swear to an American god.

Dark Horse Comics, over their three decades-plus of publishing comic books adapted from other media, has produced countless high-quality “media-tie” comic book and adaptations, and American Gods is one of their best.  Even into this third issue, P. Craig Russell and Scott Hampton's American Gods feels true to Neil Gaiman's storytelling and text.

Russell is patient and allows his script adaptation of Gaiman's expansive novel to breath, rather than forcing the pace to squeeze the narrative into a miniseries.  Hampton's naturalistic art captures the supernatural aura surrounding American Gods' narrative, while fashioning a world that is both natural and supernatural.  I wondered how they could pull off Laura's return, which is one of the more troubling sequences in the novel.  They got it right; the comics vision of that event is also quite eerie.

So for a third time, I implore you to set aside your four dollars each month so that you can buy this lovely comic book, dear reader.  American Gods may end up being on the short list of great comic book adaptations of a prose novel.

A

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


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