Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 20, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

DEC180132    BEAUTY TP VOL 05 (MR)    $16.99
DEC180224    BITTER ROOT #4 CVR A GREENE (MR)    $3.99
DEC180225    BITTER ROOT #4 CVR B MACK (MR)    $3.99
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DEC180061    BULLY WARS TP VOL 01    $12.99
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DEC180052    SHARKEY BOUNTY HUNTER #1 (OF 6) CVR C QUITELY (MR)    $3.99
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DEC180056    SHARKEY BOUNTY HUNTER #1 (OF 6) CVR G KERSCHL (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 20, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

DEC180888    AGE OF X-MAN AMAZING NIGHTCRAWLER #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
DEC180890    AGE OF X-MAN AMAZING NIGHTCRAWLER #1 (OF 5) INHYUK LEE CONNE    $3.99
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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 20, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

DEC182293    ACCA 13 TERRITORY INSPECTION DEPT GN VOL 06    $15.00
NOV182244    ALICE & ZOROKU GN VOL 05    $12.99
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MAGAZINES
DEC181789    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1653    $PI
DEC181949    LOCUS #697    $7.50

BOOKS
SEP182058    ALITA BATTLE ANGEL ART & MAKING OF MOVIE HC    $45.00
SEP182061    ALITA BATTLE ANGEL DR IDOS JOURNAL SC    $24.95
SEP182060    ALITA BATTLE ANGEL OFFICIAL MOVIE HC NOVEL    $22.95
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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for February 19, 2019

BOOM! STUDIOS

DEC188260    (USE DEC189110) BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 (2ND PTG)    $3.99
DEC181375    AVANT-GUARDS #2 (OF 12) MAIN    $3.99
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DEC181363    BONE PARISH #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
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OCT181290    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING TP VOL 04 JUST RIGHT    $14.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 19, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC180383    ALIENS RESISTANCE #2 CVR A LA TORRE    $3.99
DEC180384    ALIENS RESISTANCE #2 CVR B JONES    $3.99
OCT180363    BERSERK DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 01 (MR)    $49.99
DEC180396    BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #8 CVR A ORMSTON    $3.99
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OCT180277    BPRD VAMPIRE SECOND EDITION TP    $19.99
DEC180359    CRIMSON LOTUS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
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DEC180357    HELLBOY AND BPRD 1956 #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT180366    I AM A HERO OMNIBUS TP VOL 09    $19.99
OCT180335    STEPHEN MCCRANIES SPACE BOY TP VOL 03    $10.99
NOV180279    UMBRELLA ACADEMY 4 PACK MAGNET SET    $9.99
DEC180374    WYRD #2 CVR A FUSO    $3.99
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Review: TRUE BELIEVERS: Conan the Barbarian #1

TRUE BELIEVERS: CONAN THE BARBARIAN No.1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Roy Thomas
PENCILS: Barry Smith
INKS: Dan Adkins
COLORS: Mimi Gold (not credited in comic book)
LETTERS: Sam Rosen
EDITOR: Stan Lee
COVER: Barry Smith and John Verpoorten with Sam Rosen
28pp, Color, $1.00 U.S. (March 2019)

Rated T

Conan the Barbarian based on the “Conan” character created by Robert E. Howard

“The Coming of Conan!”

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

In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books with the series, Conan the Barbarian, originally written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Barry Smith – now known as Barry Windsor-Smith.  With a pause of only a few years, Conan comic books have been published for the better part of five decades.  Marvel Comics, which held the license to produce Conan comic books for three decades, regained the license last year (from Dark Horse Comics, which had the license for about 15 years).

Marvel recently published the first issue of a revival of Conan the Barbarian.  They are also publishing reprints of select Conan comic books from their original run with the character under the “True Believers” banner.  True Believers is a budget reprint program that began in 2015 and offers $1 reprints of individual Marvel issues that are considered fan-favorite, important, classic, or monumental.

True Believers: Conan the Barbarian #1 reprints the first Marvel Conan comic book, Conan the Barbarian #1 (cover dated: October 1970).  That issue's twenty-page story was written by Roy Thomas; drawn by Barry Smith (pencils) and Dan Adkins (inks); and lettered by Sam Rosen.  Although she is does not receive a credit in the comic book, Mimi Gold colored Smith and Adkins' art.

Conan the Barbarian #1 (“The Coming of Conan!”) is a story that apparently takes place early in Conan's adulthood.  He is a mercenary in service of the kingdom of Aesgaard and serve the Aesir in their war against the Vanir.  The story opens in Vanaheim, during a summer battle between the Aesir and the Vanir, where we find Conan battling the fierce Vanir warrior, Gondur.

Conan is proving to be a most accomplished warrior, although he insists that he only fights for the Aesir because they pay him the most gold.  However, Conan's prowess in battle has attracted the attention of a crazy shaman and a mysterious young woman.  Now, they want to capture Conan, and the secrets of the past, present, and future they will reveal to him will rock Conan's world.

Like many Conan comic book fans, I am an admirer of Barry Windsor-Smith's Conan comic book art, especially the art he produced during the second half of his twenty-two issue run on Conan the Barbarian.  Still, as far as figure-drawing goes, I prefer the lean, sinewy, Jack Kirby-esque Conan as drawn by Barry Smith, exemplified by the Conan that appears on the cover of Conan the Barbarian #1 and, of course, on the cover of True Believers: Conan the Barbarian #1.

“The Coming of Conan!” is good, although not great.  It is not Roy Thomas' best Conan comic book writing, and Thomas is by far the best Conan comic book writer ever.  Hell, Thomas is one of the best comic book writers of all time, and is certainly better than many of the comic book writers that pass for the current elite.  Here, Thomas offers a story in tune with the weird fiction of Conan's creator, Robert E. Howard, and it is full of theatrical, operatic dialogue and over-the-top, but colorful exposition.

I am glad that Conan is back with Marvel Comics, where I discovered the character, and I am glad for True Believers: Conan the Barbarian #1.  Hopefully, there will be more “budget” reprints of classic Marvel Conan comic books.  I love this reprint comic book, so that is why I am giving it a high grade.

8 out of 10

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


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

------------------------

Book Review: BRING ON THE BLESSINGS (Blessings #1)

BRING ON THE BLESSINGS (A Blessings Novel)
HARPERCOLLINS/William Morrow – @HarperCollins; @WmMorrowBks

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Beverly Jenkins – @authorMsBev
ISBN: 978-0-06-168840-9; paperback (January 27, 2009)
384pp, B&W, $13.99 U.S., $17.50 CAN

Bring on the Blessings is a 2009 novel from bestselling author, Beverly Jenkins.  It was the first novel in what became known as Jenkins' “Blessings” novel series.  Bring on the Blessings introduces the fictional small town of Henry Adams, Kansas, which is largely the setting of all the following “Blessings,” books, including the recent (as of this writing) ninth novel in the series, Second Time Sweeter (2018).  Henry Adams is a fictional town established by freed slaves after the Civil War.  [Henry Adams is based on a real town founded by freed slaves, Nicodemus, Kansas.]

Bring on the Blessings introduces Bernadine Edwards Brown.  Two days after her thirtieth wedding anniversary and a day before her fifty-second birthday, she walks into her husband, Leo's office and finds him having sex with his secretary on top his desk.  One divorce later, she ends up with a $275 million dollar settlement.  Having been raised in the church, Bernadine believes that when much is given, much is expected, so she asks God to send her a purpose.

That purpose turns out to be a town: Henry Adams, Kansas, one of the last surviving townships founded by freed slaves after the Civil War.  The town is failing and has put itself up for sale on the Internet, so Bernadine buys it.  To the town's mayor, Trent July, Bernadine Brown is a savior.  After he meets Bernadine, Trent is even impressed by her vision and strength, and especially the hope she wants to offer to the town and its few remaining residents.  Bernadine also wants to offer hope to a handful of foster kids in desperate need of a second chance, changing their lives and the lives of the people who will become their foster parents.

But not everyone is down with Bernadine Brown and her vision for a promising future.  There will be bumps along the road – for her, for the residents, both old and new, and for the children.  In Henry Adams, Kansas, there is never a dull day.

As I have written in previous reviews, I had heard of author Beverly Jenkins, but had never read her work.  Then, I received a review copy of her 2016 novel, Stepping to a New Day (the seventh “Blessings” novel).  I immediately fell in love with the characters and with the town of Henry Adams.  I went on to read Chasing Down a Dream (2017 – #8) and Second Time Sweeter (2018 – #9).

Over a few exchanged tweets, Jenkins suggested that I go back to the beginning and read the series in order.  I was able to squeeze in the first “Blessings” book, Bring on the Blessings.  It was worth setting aside time to read this book, which I really love, and it may be my favorite.  That is difficult for me to decide because I have thoroughly enjoyed all the “Blessings” books that I have thus far read, especially Second Time Sweeter, which has some dark and edgy moments, belying its title.

Jenkins is an excellent character writer, creating a cast that the reader wants to know intimately.  I am exciting about all of the characters, even the detestable Riley Curry, and I must say that even the ill-fated Morton Prell is worthy of his own story.  I think that people who like Jenkins' books can't wait to get back to the characters, which is the case with me, dear readers.

Bring on the Blessings isn't all cozy and comfort.  Jenkins depicts the suffering of abandoned and abused children in stark terms.  My late aunt and uncle were foster parents to numerous children, and one of the many things that Jenkins gets right is the horrid situations from which many children in foster care came.  Even when foster children are placed in better situations, a whim or act of fate can threaten whatever good fortune... or blessings they found.  Jenkins is known as a romance writer, but readers should not underestimate the sense of verisimilitude that permeates her novels when it comes to depicting real-world dilemmas.

Bring on the Blessings is one of the best novels that I have read this past decade.  If the books that come after this first novel also keep it real, I say bring on more “Blessings.”

10 out of 10

http://www.beverlyjenkins.net/web/

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


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