A NEW COLLECTED EDITION FOR MAX ALLAN COLLINS' CLASSIC PRIVATE DETECTIVE
From The Award-Winning Publisher Of Mike Hammer And Minky Woodcock
Hard Case Crime continues to release sharp, stylish crime thrillers, and 2019 is no exception. The legendary detective Ms Tree – created by Mystery Writers of America 2017 Grand Master 'Edgar' winner Max Allan Collins, and inker of the Eisner Award-winning Batman and Robin Adventures series and the World's Finest graphic novel Terry Beatty - will soon be available in a collection which reprints her classic adventures.
Inspired by Mike Hammer's assistant Velda - as written by Max's friend and mentor Mickey Spillane - Michael Tree (don't call her Michelle) is a six-foot-tall, gun-toting, take-no-prisoners private eye determined to bring her husband's killers to justice. Along the way, she deals with organized crime, double-dealing and deadly violence, while wrestling with her own personal demons. This series has been notable for its focus on real-life issues – homophobia, abortion, mental health – and Hard Case Crime is delighted to introduce her story to new readers.
"I am thrilled and proud that Titan is bringing out the complete collected Ms. Tree," said author Max Allan Collins. "Terry Beatty and I created a strong female protagonist and re-established noir-ish crime fiction as a comics genre, pre-dating Frank Miller's Sin City and everything that followed. Ms. Tree remains the longest running private eye comic book to date, and jump-started the trend toward female private eyes, appearing before both Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone."
Terry Beatty said, "In the 1950s, the Comics Code Authority, acting under pressure from a panicked (and misinformed) public, put an end to crime comics. In the 1980s, with Ms. Tree, Max Allan Collins and I brought crime comics back. For over a decade, and under several imprints, we continued our crusade to revive the crime and detective genres in the comic book format. We seem to have started something."
Max Allan Collins is also the author of the graphic novel, Road to Perdition, which led to the Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Hanks. His Quarry series, featuring the eponymous Vietnam-vet-turned-hitman was recently adapted into a Cinemax TV series, and he is the author of new novels in the Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer series.
Ms. Tree joins Titan's Hard Case Crime comics imprint, which has seen recent publications including Max's Mike Hammer: The Night I Died and Quarry's War; Triggerman by visionary director Walter Hill (The Warriors); Peepland by crime authors Christa Faust and Gary Phillips; a new adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Millennium; Normandy Gold by crime authors Megan Abbott and Alison Gaylin; and Babylon Berlin, a graphic novel adaptation of the book that inspired the new TV show currently showing on Netflix.
MS TREE
Author: Max Allan Collins
Illustrator: Terry Beatty
Publisher: Titan Comics
Imprint: Hard Case Crime
Softcover, $24.99, £21.99
ISBN: 9781787730519
----------------------------
Sunday, March 31, 2019
I Reads You Juniors March 2019 - Update #89
Support Leroy on Patreon.
Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page
:
From TheNewYorker: Françoise Mouly and Genevieve Bormes have "A Conversation with Jaime Hernandez About His New Graphic Novel" (entitled "Is This How You See Me?).
From Newsarama: DC Comics introduced a new logo for "Detective Comics," which it will debut in Detective Comics #1001.
From Deadline: Here is a first look at actress Courtney Whitmore in costume as "Stargirl" from the DC Universe's streaming series.
From BleedingCool: IDW Publishing looking to sell $25 million in stock to fund projects.
From Newsarama: Here is a first look at a teaser for Epix's upcoming series, "Pennyworth," the Alfred Pennyworth TV series.
From HuffPost: Jeffrey Veregge is bringing Native American representation to comic books.
From BleedingCool: Bill Sienkiewicz is illustrating "Santa: My Life & Times" for Titan Comics.
From Deadline: "Bitter Root," the Image Comics miniseries from creators David F. Walker, Sanford Greene, and Chuck Brown has had its film rights picked up by Legendary Pictures.
From BleedingCool: Two of Marvel's characters created for the Chinese and Asian markets, Sword Master and Aero, will appear in Marvel's domestic comics.
From Newsarama: Here is a preview of Marvel's upcoming, "History of the Marvel Universe," which still does not have a release date.
From Newsarama: This article looks at every centennial cover after Detective Comics #27 (#127, 227, and so on). The article also has a link where you can view all 80 variant covers for Detective Comics #1000.
From Newsarama: The annual "Star Wars" event known as "May the 4th" coincidentally falls on the same day as Free Comic Book Day 2019. Marvel Comics will release a free Star Wars sampler comic book for the day.
From BleedingCool: Jonathan Hickman is coming back to Marvel Comics to write "House of X" and "Power of X," two six-issue miniseries due July 2019.
From Newsarama: Writer Tini Howard signs as an exclusive creator with Marvel Comics.
From Newsarama: Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Alex Ross will produce a one-shot "Marvels" comic book to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original "Marvels" miniseries. No release date has been announced.
From ComicBook: Sandy King, known for her work as a movie producer for her production company, Storm King Productions, talks about the state of horror comics, which she also publishes.
From Newsarama: Get paid to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon...
From Newsarama: Former Marvel publisher, Bill Jemas, has a new comic book publishing venture, "Artists, Writers, and Artisans" (AWA). A number of star comics creators have joined, including Garth Ennis, Frank Cho, and Reginald Hudlin, to name a few.
From Newsarama: DC Comics is hiring a "Managing Editor" to oversee its comics publishing division. Although a new position, the late Dick Giordana was "Managing Editor" of DC in the 1980s.
From THR: "Jesusfreak" is a graphic novel due in June from Image Comics. Writer Joe Casey talks to "The Hollywood Reporter" about it.
From CBR: Changes are coming to "The Amazing Spider-Man" newspaper daily comic strip. That includes the end of Roy Thomas' tenure writing the strip, the end of the current story line, and the beginning of a period of reprints.
From Newsarama: Bryan Hitch is leaving DC Comics' "Hawkman" to work on two new DC projects.
From Newsarama: After 69 years, legendary inker, Joe Sinnott, has retired from comic books. Sinnott is probably best known for inking some of Jack Kirby's best work.
--------------------------------
From BleedingCool: VIZ Media to publish OEL (original English language) manga through an imprint, "VIZ Originals." They will be looking at submissions through 2019.
From VIZ: The VIZMedia webpage dedicated to "VIZ Originals."
--------------------------------
From BleedingCool: Unpublished "Doom Patrol" comics to be appear in "Doom Patrol Bronze Age Omnibus."
From Newsarama: One of the most popular "Incredible Hulk" creative teams, writer Peter David and artist Dale Keown, are reunited for an oversized Hulk one shot entitled, "Incredible Hulk: Last Call."
From THR: Apparently, Ezra Miller, the actor playing "Flash" in Warner Bros. DC Comics films, will join legendary comic book writer, Grant Morrison, in writing the script for a Flash movie.
From Newsarama: The current release date for Frank Miller and John Romita, Jr.'s "Superman: Year One" is June 2019 for the release of 3 issues released in a special large, format.
From Newsarama: A list of the 16 titles that DC Comics will publish through its DC Ink and DC Zoom young readers imprints from Spring 2019 to early 2020.
From Newsarama: Matt Wagner and Dark Horse has announced a new "Grendel" comic book, "Grendel: The Devil's Odyssey." The eight-issue will be colored by Brennan Wagner and lettered by Dave Lanphear and begin publication in October 2019.
From Newsarama: Warner Bros.'s DC Comics film, "Shazam," is tracking for a $40 million dollar opening weekend.
From Newsarama: Bryan Singer has been dropped from the "Red Sonja" film reboot project.
From Deadline: Actor Esai Morales will portray Deathstroke in the DC Universe's streaming series, "Titans."
From Newsarama: DC Comics gives Swamp Thing the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" spin in the "DC Zoom" title, "The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid."
From BleedingCool: Ahoy Comics will pick up "Second Coming," the controversial Mark Russell-Richard Pace comic book that DC Comics/Vertigo did not have the backbone to publish in the wake of complaints from Christian religious extremists.
From SlashFilm: Marvel Studios is producing a TV series based on its "What If" comic book series for the streaming service, Disney+.
From HuffPost: "Captain Marvel" may have sneakily introduced a new black female superhero.
From YahooEntertainment: "Captain Marvel" and her historic worldwide box office debut conquers the trolls.
From BleedingCool: "Marvel's Illustrator's Sketchbook" coming in October 2019.
From Newsarama: The "Avengers Start Here Sampler 2019" is a free comic book that will appear ahead of "Avengers: Endgame."
From Newsarama: Animation writer Amy Wolfram will be writing new DC Super Hero Girls.
From CBR: Seth McFarlane's Fox TV series, "The Orville," will have a comic book adaptation.
From CBB: Webcomics Spit episode #2 in English
From CBB: Webcomics Spit episode #2 in French
From THR: How "Captain Marvel" comic book writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick, revamped the hero.
From ComicBookBin: Herve St. Louis reviews the "Captain Marvel" movie for CBB.
From BleedingCool: There is now cover art and a release date for the long-delayed Frank Miller-John Romita, Jr. project, "Superman: Year One." The current announced release date is November 12, 2019 under DC Comics' "Black Label" imprint.
From THR: Andy Serkis has reportedly joined Fox's film adaptation of the comic book, "Mouse Guard."
From Variety: Disney CEO Bob Iger says that the Disney/Fox merger is closing soon.
From Newsarama: Actress Adrienne Barbeau who appeared as Abigail Barbeau in the 1982 film version of "Swamp Thing." She says that she will appear in DC Universe's streaming "Swamp Thing" in a role she did not disclose.
From Newsarama: Comic book writer Kelley Sue DeConnick, who was instrumental in the development of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel, talks about the character and her other comics ("Bitch Planet").
From DeseretNews: 7 things you definitely didn’t know about Captain Marvel's back story from the Marvel comic books.
From THR: Comic book writer, Brian K. Vaughn, will is writing a live-action movie based on the long-running and hugely popular "Gundam" anime series and franchise.
From Deadline: Actor Ernie Hudson ("Ghostbusters") will appear in The CW's "Arrow" in guest role this season.
From Newsarama: DC Comics is apparently going to relaunch/reboot its "Green Arrow" comic book and make it a bigger part of its DC Universe (DCU).
From Newsarama: Mike Deodato, Jr. recently announced that he will be leaving Marvel in the near future. His first non-Marvel project will be "Berserker Unbound," a creator-owned comic book from Dark Horse Comics that will be written by Jeff Lemire.
From BleedingCool: Some of IDW Media's investors want the company put up for sale.
From GoFundMe: There is a campaign to help the ailing and acclaimed cartoonist, Gahan Wilson, who is apparently suffering from dementia.
From ANN: Shueisha's "Weekly Shonen Jump" magazine will be the home of a new manga from creator, Hiroshi Shiibashi ("Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan"). The manga, titled Kamio Yui wa Kimi wo Yui (Yui Kamio Does Hairdressing), will debut in the March 11th, 2019 issue of the magazine.
From Crunchyroll: With the debut of its 92nd tankobon (graphic novel) volume, One Piece has 450 million copies printed worldwide.
From Comichron: January 2019 comic book sales to comic book shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
From BleedingCool: Is Bryan Hitch drawing a "Batman" comic book that Warren Ellis is writing?
From BleedingCool: DC Comics will publish "The Art of Jim Lee" hardcover book for Christmas 2019.
From Newsarama: Mike Deodato says that is will leave Marvel Comics, for whom he has worked for 24 years, to pursue creator-owned comic books.
From TCJ: Alex Dueben of "The Comics Journal" interviews longtime comic book creator, Joe Giella, best known for inking a number of Silver Age artist luminaries.
From Nerdist: The new Manga Art Hotel is a capsule hotel in Tokyo with over 5,000 manga shelved floor-to-ceiling for its lucky guests to read all night long.
From GayStarNews: The Dutch version of the Donald Duck comic books will feature its first lesbian character, thanks to the campaigning of a 10-year-old-girl.
From ComicBook: Len Wiseman shares first footage from his "Swamp Thing" series for DC Universe.
From ANN: Titan Comics announced last week that it will release Eldo Yoshimizu's "Ryuko" manga as the first Japanese title in its "Hard Case Crime" line.
From BleedingCool: "We’re Now In A Period Of Change" – former DC Comics VP, Bob Wayne Explains the Rules in ComicsPRO Keynote Address
From BleedingCool: Who’s to Blame For Falling Comics Sales? And What’s to be Done? Brian Hibbs at ComicsPRO
From BleedingCool: Trevor Von Eeden, veteran comic book artist and co-creator of DC Comics' Black Lightning, says that the U.S. Secret Service visited him over posts he wrote about President Trump and Vice-President Pence.
------------------------------------------------
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics to host a panel at this year's SXSW conference in Austin Texas (March 8 to March 17, 2019).
From BleedingCool: Joe Quesada and Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski may really need to be at SXSW to pump up Marvel Comics.
-------------------------------------------------
From YahooMovieUK: The DC Extended Universe or DCEU is over because of the success of the "Wonder Woman" movie says Warner Bros’ chief Kevin Tsujihara
From Newsarama: DC Comics co-publisher, Dan DiDio, says that DC is "rethinking" its collected editions (trade paperbacks, hardbacks, archives, etc.) due to a perceived glut of product on the market.
MARCH 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Adhouse Books for March 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Avatar Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Avery Hill for March 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for March 2019
From BleedingCool: Cave Pictures Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama: Dark Horse Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Devil's Due/1First Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertaiment for March 2019
From Newsarama: Fantagraphics Books for March 2019
From BleedingCool: First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Graphix for March 2019
From Newsarama: Humanoids for March 2019
From BleedingCool: IDW Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Impact Theory for March 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Force for March 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Rebellion for March 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for March 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for March 2019
From BleedingCool: Zenescope Entertainment for March 2019
APRIL 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for April 2019
From Newsarama: Albatross Funnybooks for April 2019
From Newsarama: AC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Aftershock Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Ahoy Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Amigo Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for April 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama: Caliber Press for April 2019
From Newsarama: Cave Pictures Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama: Dark Horse Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Drawn & Quarterly for April 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama: Fantagraphics Books for April 2019
From Newsarama: Heavy Metal for April 2019
From Newsarama: Hero Tomorrow for April 2019
From Newsarama: Humanoids for April 2019
From Newsarama: IDW Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Joe Books for April 2019
From Newsarama: Keenspot for April 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Forge for April 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for April 2019
From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Titan Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for April 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for April 2019
MAY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama: AC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: AfterShock Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Ahoy Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Dark Horse Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama: IDW Publishing for May 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Keenspot Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama: Kevin Eastman Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Forge Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Source Point Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for May 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Zenescope Entertainment for May 2019
JUNE 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: AC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for June 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama: Hero Tomorrow for June 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for June 2019
-------------------------
Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page
:From TheNewYorker: Françoise Mouly and Genevieve Bormes have "A Conversation with Jaime Hernandez About His New Graphic Novel" (entitled "Is This How You See Me?).
From Newsarama: DC Comics introduced a new logo for "Detective Comics," which it will debut in Detective Comics #1001.
From Deadline: Here is a first look at actress Courtney Whitmore in costume as "Stargirl" from the DC Universe's streaming series.
From BleedingCool: IDW Publishing looking to sell $25 million in stock to fund projects.
From Newsarama: Here is a first look at a teaser for Epix's upcoming series, "Pennyworth," the Alfred Pennyworth TV series.
From HuffPost: Jeffrey Veregge is bringing Native American representation to comic books.
From BleedingCool: Bill Sienkiewicz is illustrating "Santa: My Life & Times" for Titan Comics.
From Deadline: "Bitter Root," the Image Comics miniseries from creators David F. Walker, Sanford Greene, and Chuck Brown has had its film rights picked up by Legendary Pictures.
From BleedingCool: Two of Marvel's characters created for the Chinese and Asian markets, Sword Master and Aero, will appear in Marvel's domestic comics.
From Newsarama: Here is a preview of Marvel's upcoming, "History of the Marvel Universe," which still does not have a release date.
From Newsarama: This article looks at every centennial cover after Detective Comics #27 (#127, 227, and so on). The article also has a link where you can view all 80 variant covers for Detective Comics #1000.
From Newsarama: The annual "Star Wars" event known as "May the 4th" coincidentally falls on the same day as Free Comic Book Day 2019. Marvel Comics will release a free Star Wars sampler comic book for the day.
From BleedingCool: Jonathan Hickman is coming back to Marvel Comics to write "House of X" and "Power of X," two six-issue miniseries due July 2019.
From Newsarama: Writer Tini Howard signs as an exclusive creator with Marvel Comics.
From Newsarama: Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Alex Ross will produce a one-shot "Marvels" comic book to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original "Marvels" miniseries. No release date has been announced.
From ComicBook: Sandy King, known for her work as a movie producer for her production company, Storm King Productions, talks about the state of horror comics, which she also publishes.
From Newsarama: Get paid to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon...
From Newsarama: Former Marvel publisher, Bill Jemas, has a new comic book publishing venture, "Artists, Writers, and Artisans" (AWA). A number of star comics creators have joined, including Garth Ennis, Frank Cho, and Reginald Hudlin, to name a few.
From Newsarama: DC Comics is hiring a "Managing Editor" to oversee its comics publishing division. Although a new position, the late Dick Giordana was "Managing Editor" of DC in the 1980s.
From THR: "Jesusfreak" is a graphic novel due in June from Image Comics. Writer Joe Casey talks to "The Hollywood Reporter" about it.
From CBR: Changes are coming to "The Amazing Spider-Man" newspaper daily comic strip. That includes the end of Roy Thomas' tenure writing the strip, the end of the current story line, and the beginning of a period of reprints.
From Newsarama: Bryan Hitch is leaving DC Comics' "Hawkman" to work on two new DC projects.
From Newsarama: After 69 years, legendary inker, Joe Sinnott, has retired from comic books. Sinnott is probably best known for inking some of Jack Kirby's best work.
--------------------------------
From BleedingCool: VIZ Media to publish OEL (original English language) manga through an imprint, "VIZ Originals." They will be looking at submissions through 2019.
From VIZ: The VIZMedia webpage dedicated to "VIZ Originals."
--------------------------------
From BleedingCool: Unpublished "Doom Patrol" comics to be appear in "Doom Patrol Bronze Age Omnibus."
From Newsarama: One of the most popular "Incredible Hulk" creative teams, writer Peter David and artist Dale Keown, are reunited for an oversized Hulk one shot entitled, "Incredible Hulk: Last Call."
From THR: Apparently, Ezra Miller, the actor playing "Flash" in Warner Bros. DC Comics films, will join legendary comic book writer, Grant Morrison, in writing the script for a Flash movie.
From Newsarama: The current release date for Frank Miller and John Romita, Jr.'s "Superman: Year One" is June 2019 for the release of 3 issues released in a special large, format.
From Newsarama: A list of the 16 titles that DC Comics will publish through its DC Ink and DC Zoom young readers imprints from Spring 2019 to early 2020.
From Newsarama: Matt Wagner and Dark Horse has announced a new "Grendel" comic book, "Grendel: The Devil's Odyssey." The eight-issue will be colored by Brennan Wagner and lettered by Dave Lanphear and begin publication in October 2019.
From Newsarama: Warner Bros.'s DC Comics film, "Shazam," is tracking for a $40 million dollar opening weekend.
From Newsarama: Bryan Singer has been dropped from the "Red Sonja" film reboot project.
From Deadline: Actor Esai Morales will portray Deathstroke in the DC Universe's streaming series, "Titans."
From Newsarama: DC Comics gives Swamp Thing the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" spin in the "DC Zoom" title, "The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid."
From BleedingCool: Ahoy Comics will pick up "Second Coming," the controversial Mark Russell-Richard Pace comic book that DC Comics/Vertigo did not have the backbone to publish in the wake of complaints from Christian religious extremists.
From SlashFilm: Marvel Studios is producing a TV series based on its "What If" comic book series for the streaming service, Disney+.
From HuffPost: "Captain Marvel" may have sneakily introduced a new black female superhero.
From YahooEntertainment: "Captain Marvel" and her historic worldwide box office debut conquers the trolls.
From BleedingCool: "Marvel's Illustrator's Sketchbook" coming in October 2019.
From Newsarama: The "Avengers Start Here Sampler 2019" is a free comic book that will appear ahead of "Avengers: Endgame."
From Newsarama: Animation writer Amy Wolfram will be writing new DC Super Hero Girls.
From CBR: Seth McFarlane's Fox TV series, "The Orville," will have a comic book adaptation.
From CBB: Webcomics Spit episode #2 in English
From CBB: Webcomics Spit episode #2 in French
From THR: How "Captain Marvel" comic book writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick, revamped the hero.
From ComicBookBin: Herve St. Louis reviews the "Captain Marvel" movie for CBB.
From BleedingCool: There is now cover art and a release date for the long-delayed Frank Miller-John Romita, Jr. project, "Superman: Year One." The current announced release date is November 12, 2019 under DC Comics' "Black Label" imprint.
From THR: Andy Serkis has reportedly joined Fox's film adaptation of the comic book, "Mouse Guard."
From Variety: Disney CEO Bob Iger says that the Disney/Fox merger is closing soon.
From Newsarama: Actress Adrienne Barbeau who appeared as Abigail Barbeau in the 1982 film version of "Swamp Thing." She says that she will appear in DC Universe's streaming "Swamp Thing" in a role she did not disclose.
From Newsarama: Comic book writer Kelley Sue DeConnick, who was instrumental in the development of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel, talks about the character and her other comics ("Bitch Planet").
From DeseretNews: 7 things you definitely didn’t know about Captain Marvel's back story from the Marvel comic books.
From THR: Comic book writer, Brian K. Vaughn, will is writing a live-action movie based on the long-running and hugely popular "Gundam" anime series and franchise.
From Deadline: Actor Ernie Hudson ("Ghostbusters") will appear in The CW's "Arrow" in guest role this season.
From Newsarama: DC Comics is apparently going to relaunch/reboot its "Green Arrow" comic book and make it a bigger part of its DC Universe (DCU).
From Newsarama: Mike Deodato, Jr. recently announced that he will be leaving Marvel in the near future. His first non-Marvel project will be "Berserker Unbound," a creator-owned comic book from Dark Horse Comics that will be written by Jeff Lemire.
From BleedingCool: Some of IDW Media's investors want the company put up for sale.
From GoFundMe: There is a campaign to help the ailing and acclaimed cartoonist, Gahan Wilson, who is apparently suffering from dementia.
From ANN: Shueisha's "Weekly Shonen Jump" magazine will be the home of a new manga from creator, Hiroshi Shiibashi ("Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan"). The manga, titled Kamio Yui wa Kimi wo Yui (Yui Kamio Does Hairdressing), will debut in the March 11th, 2019 issue of the magazine.
From Crunchyroll: With the debut of its 92nd tankobon (graphic novel) volume, One Piece has 450 million copies printed worldwide.
From Comichron: January 2019 comic book sales to comic book shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
From BleedingCool: Is Bryan Hitch drawing a "Batman" comic book that Warren Ellis is writing?
From BleedingCool: DC Comics will publish "The Art of Jim Lee" hardcover book for Christmas 2019.
From Newsarama: Mike Deodato says that is will leave Marvel Comics, for whom he has worked for 24 years, to pursue creator-owned comic books.
From TCJ: Alex Dueben of "The Comics Journal" interviews longtime comic book creator, Joe Giella, best known for inking a number of Silver Age artist luminaries.
From Nerdist: The new Manga Art Hotel is a capsule hotel in Tokyo with over 5,000 manga shelved floor-to-ceiling for its lucky guests to read all night long.
From GayStarNews: The Dutch version of the Donald Duck comic books will feature its first lesbian character, thanks to the campaigning of a 10-year-old-girl.
From ComicBook: Len Wiseman shares first footage from his "Swamp Thing" series for DC Universe.
From ANN: Titan Comics announced last week that it will release Eldo Yoshimizu's "Ryuko" manga as the first Japanese title in its "Hard Case Crime" line.
From BleedingCool: "We’re Now In A Period Of Change" – former DC Comics VP, Bob Wayne Explains the Rules in ComicsPRO Keynote Address
From BleedingCool: Who’s to Blame For Falling Comics Sales? And What’s to be Done? Brian Hibbs at ComicsPRO
From BleedingCool: Trevor Von Eeden, veteran comic book artist and co-creator of DC Comics' Black Lightning, says that the U.S. Secret Service visited him over posts he wrote about President Trump and Vice-President Pence.
------------------------------------------------
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics to host a panel at this year's SXSW conference in Austin Texas (March 8 to March 17, 2019).
From BleedingCool: Joe Quesada and Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski may really need to be at SXSW to pump up Marvel Comics.
-------------------------------------------------
From YahooMovieUK: The DC Extended Universe or DCEU is over because of the success of the "Wonder Woman" movie says Warner Bros’ chief Kevin Tsujihara
From Newsarama: DC Comics co-publisher, Dan DiDio, says that DC is "rethinking" its collected editions (trade paperbacks, hardbacks, archives, etc.) due to a perceived glut of product on the market.
MARCH 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Adhouse Books for March 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Avatar Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Avery Hill for March 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for March 2019
From BleedingCool: Cave Pictures Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama: Dark Horse Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Devil's Due/1First Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertaiment for March 2019
From Newsarama: Fantagraphics Books for March 2019
From BleedingCool: First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Graphix for March 2019
From Newsarama: Humanoids for March 2019
From BleedingCool: IDW Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Impact Theory for March 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Force for March 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for March 2019
From Newsarama: Rebellion for March 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for March 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for March 2019
From BleedingCool: Zenescope Entertainment for March 2019
APRIL 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for April 2019
From Newsarama: Albatross Funnybooks for April 2019
From Newsarama: AC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Aftershock Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Ahoy Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Amigo Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for April 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama: Caliber Press for April 2019
From Newsarama: Cave Pictures Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama: Dark Horse Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Drawn & Quarterly for April 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama: Fantagraphics Books for April 2019
From Newsarama: Heavy Metal for April 2019
From Newsarama: Hero Tomorrow for April 2019
From Newsarama: Humanoids for April 2019
From Newsarama: IDW Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Joe Books for April 2019
From Newsarama: Keenspot for April 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Forge for April 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for April 2019
From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Titan Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for April 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for April 2019
MAY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama: AC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: AfterShock Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Ahoy Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Alterna Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Black Mask Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Dark Horse Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama: IDW Publishing for May 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Keenspot Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama: Kevin Eastman Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: Lion Forge Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool: Source Point Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama: VIZ Media for May 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for May 2019
From Newsarama: Zenescope Entertainment for May 2019
JUNE 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: AC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Antarctic Press for June 2019
From Newsarama: Archie Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Aspen Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: BOOM! Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama: DC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Dynamite Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama: Hero Tomorrow for June 2019
From Newsarama: Image Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Mad Cave Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama: Marvel Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Scout Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama: Valiant Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama: Vault Comics for June 2019
-------------------------
Friday, March 29, 2019
Review: STAR WARS: Tag & Blink Were Here #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[The review was originally posted on Patreon.]
EDITORS: Dave Land; Mark D. Beazley (collection)
COVER: Lucas Marangon with Michelle Madsen
MISC: Lucas Marangon with Michelle Madsen; Lucas Marangon; Lucas Marangon with Dan Jackson; John McCrea and Jimmy Palmiotti with Dan Jackson
ISBN: 978-1-302-91490-5; magazine (Wednesday, May 2, 2018)
104pp, Color, $7.99 U.S., $10.99 CAN (Diamond order code – MAR180947)
Rated “T”
Tag and Bink are Star Wars characters that debuted in Star Wars humor comic books first published by Dark Horse Comics (which had the license to publish Star Wars comic books from 1991 to 2014). Tag and Bink were created by writer Kevin Rubio and artist Lucas Marangon and starred in two two-issue Star Wars spoof comic book miniseries.
The first was Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead #1-2 (cover dated: October to November 2001), and the second was Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #1-2 (cover dated: March to April 2006). An earlier version of the story that appeared in Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #1 was published in Star Wars Tales #12 (cover dated: June 2002). Dark Horse initially collected Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead #1-2 and Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #1-2 in a trade paperback entitled Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here (cover dated: November 2006).
Marvel Comics has regained the license to produce Star Wars comic books that it originally held from the mid-1970s to about 1990. In May 2018, Marvel published its own version of Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here, apparently released to coincide with the May 2018 release of the Star Wars film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. Tag & Bink were supposed to appear in Solo, but their scene was reportedly cut from the film.
Entitled Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here #1 and published in the comic book format, this standalone comic book reprints the story pages and cover art of Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead #1-2, Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #1-2. It also reprints the Tag & Bink story in Star Wars Tales #12 (cover dated: June 2002) and also the cover art for Dark Horse's Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here.
Tag & Bink are Tag Greenly, a male human from the planet Corellia, and Bink Otauna, a male human from Alderaan. In the comics, writer Kevin Rubio presents the duo as playing a role or at least being present in pivotal moments depicted in the following Star Wars films: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
The title of Tag & Bink's first appearance, Tag and Bink Are Dead, is a direct reference to Tom Stoppard 1966 play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are minor characters in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, and in Stoppard's play, the duo's actions take place in the background or “in the wings” of the main events of Hamlet. In that manner, Kevin Rubio makes Tag & Bink the stars who view and comment upon the main events of the Star Wars story and sometimes play a pivotal role in main events.
For instance, as background players, Tag & Bink are rebel soldiers aboard Princess Leia's starship (the "Tantive IV") that is captured by Darth Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer at the beginning of the original Star Wars film. As players in a main event, Tag, in disguise as a storm trooper, is the trooper that shoots C-3PO during the “Cloud City” sequence of The Empire Strikes Back.
Writer Kevin Rubio plays Tag & Bink as being the most important Star Wars characters fans never knew existed. He is revealing their true roles in the epic Star Wars saga, but the hapless duo's fateful adventures and misadventures will make you wonder whose side they are on. Honestly, with these characters, Rubio offers some of the best Star Wars humor ever published in comic book form. Rubio cleverly weaves Tag & Bink into Star Wars moments – both major and minor, and he creates some inventive side stories and back stories. The scenes with Lando Calrissian are, quite frankly, quite nice.
Artist Lucas Marangon seems like the perfect collaborator for Rubio. Marangon is an excellent Star Wars cartoonist and comic book artist. He draws the characters, creatures, beings, costumes, sets, backgrounds, backdrops, ships, tech, environments, etc. with stunning accuracy, and does so while creating a humorous and comedic tone. Marangon's illustrations and storytelling are perfect for the Star Wars spoof that is Tag & Bink.
I recommend Marvel Comics' Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here #1 to fans of Star Wars humor and, of course, to collectors of Star Wars comic books. I am confident both groups will enjoy reading these truly funny Star Wars comic books.
8 out of 10
Below are the creator credits for the story material reprinted in Marvel's Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here #1:
Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead #1 - “Episode IV.1: Tag and Bink Are Dead” (originally published by Dark Horse Comics; cover dated: October 2001)
STORY: Kevin Rubio
PENCILS: Lucas Marangon
INKS: Howard M. Shum
COLORS: Michelle Madsen
LETTERS: Steve Dutro
Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead #2 - “Episode IV.1: Tag and Bink Live” (originally published by Dark Horse Comics; cover dated: November 2001)
STORY: Kevin Rubio
PENCILS: Lucas Marangon
INKS: Howard M. Shum
COLORS: Michelle Madsen
LETTERS: Steve Dutro
Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #1 - “Episode VI.1: The Return of Tag and Bink – Special Edition” (originally published by Dark Horse Comics; cover dated: March 2006)
STORY: Kevin Rubio
ART: Lucas Marangon
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Michael David Thomas
Star Wars: Tag & Bink II #2 - “Tag & Bink: Episode I – Revenge of the Clone Menace” (originally published by Dark Horse Comics; cover dated: April 2006)
STORY: Kevin Rubio
ART: Lucas Marangon
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Michael David Thomas
Star Wars Tales #12 – “The Revenge of Tag & Bink” (originally published by Dark Horse Comics; cover dated: June 2002)
STORY: Kevin Rubio
PENCILS: Rick Zombo
INKS: Randy Emberlin
COLORS: Dan Brown
LETTERS: Steve Dutro
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.
--------------------------
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Review: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Universe, Volume 1
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
LETTERS: Shawn Lee; Chris Mowry
EDITORS: Bobby Curnow (series); Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon (collection)
COVER: Freddie E. Williams II
MISC. ART: Ben Bishop; Freddie E. Williams II; Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird; Kevin Eastman with Tomi Varga; Antonio Fuso; Damian Couceiro; Agustin Graham Nakamura; Eddie Nunez; Ian Chase Nichols; Dan Duncan; Tess Fowler with Tamra Bonvillain; Sajao Shah; Johnnie Christmas with Tamra Bonvillain
ISBN: 978-1-63140-874-8; paperback; 6 5/8 x 10 3/16 (May 2, 2017)
120pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $25.99 CAN
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as TMNT and Ninja Turtles or sometimes as “the Turtles”) are a media empire that began with characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird for the comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (cover dated: May 1984). Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael are four teenage anthropomorphic turtles who walk and talk like humans). IDW Publishing has held the license to produce Turtles comic books since 2011 and has essentially rebooted the Turtles comic book universe.
Launched in August 2016, the comic book series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, explores characters and story-lines that are pivotal to the IDW TMNT universe. The first trade collection of the series is entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, Volume 1: The War to Come. It reprints Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #1-5.
The opening story arc of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, Volume 1: The War to Come is “The War to Come” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #1-4). The Ninja Turtles are facing increasing threats against their existence. An organization called the “Earth Protection Force” (EPF) is determined to wipe mutants from the world. Led by Agent Bishop, the EPF launch an attack on the Turtles and others it considers mutants and freaks.
The Turtles find a reluctant ally in a murderous scorpion-like mutant named Zodi. Meanwhile, Turtle ally, April O'Neil, goes to her former boss, the mad scientist and Turtle adversary, Baxter Stockman, who is also reluctant to help them. However, the full-on assault of the EPF may force some to become the saviors of those who would be their enemies.
This trade paperback contains two stand-alone tales. In the story, “Inside Out” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #4), Leonardo fights the Foot Clan, Utroms, Koya, the Rat King, and his own fear. In the story “Urban Legends” ( Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #5), two mutants, Hob and Leatherhead, raid a dog-fighting tournament, but being on the same side does not mean being on the same side.
First, let me say that the two short stories, “Inside Out” and “Urban Legends,” are not particularly special. “Urban Legends” is the better of the two, but “Inside Out” features the art team of Kevin Eastman (layouts) and Bill Sienkiewicz (pencils and inks), which is something of a big deal... at least, for me.
The main story, “The War to Come,” is a really good story. From the start, the stakes feel high, and the Ninja Turtles are very much in peril. The EPF is a collection of mean, murdering bastards, and the Turtles allies are questionable, at best, so the story is edgy and intense. Writer Paul Allor also plays up the conflict within the Turtles as a group, so the readers get complications on top of the threat to the heroes. That certainly makes for a riveting read.
The art team of Damian Couceiro (pencils-inks) and Ronda Pattison (colors) is gritty and reflects the stinginess of hope for salvation that Allor depicts in the story. I would say that “The War to Come” is the kind of story TMNT fans will want to read, and it alone makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, Volume 1: The War to Come a worthwhile purchase.
I must say that I am surprised. When IDW sent me a review copy of this book a while back, I did not expect much upon first glance.
B+
7 out of 10
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The stories reprinted in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, Volume 1: The War to Come
“The War to Come” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #1-4)
STORY: Paul Allor
ART: Damian Couceiro
COLORS: Ronda Pattison
“Inside Out” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #4)
STORY: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz
SCRIPT: Tom Waltz
LAYOUTS: Kevin Eastman
ART: Bill Sienkiewicz
COLORS: Tomi Varga
“Urban Legends” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe#5)
STORY: Chris Mowry
ART: Michael Dialynas
COLORS: Tomi Varga
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
----------------------
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Book Review: DEATH IN PROVENCE
HARPER (HarperCollins Publishers) – @HarperCollins
@HarperBooks
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
AUTHOR: Serena Kent – @SerenaKentBooks
ISBN: 978-0-06-286985-2; hardcover (February 19, 2019)
352pp, B&W, $26.99 U.S.
Death in Provence is a 2019 mystery novel from author Serena Kent, which is the pen name of husband and wife writing team, Deborah Lawrenson and Robert Rees. Death in Provence is Serena Kent's debut novel and is also the first novel in the “Penelope Kite” series. The novel focuses on an retired Englishwoman and young-at-heart divorcee with a knack for stumbling across dead bodies.
Death in Provence introduces Penelope Kite, a 50-something Englishwoman. For years, Penelope put her unfaithful ex-husband, David, and her ungrateful stepchildren, Justin and Lena, first. She has also been an unpaid babysitter and chauffeur for her grandchildren. Now, Penelope has taken early retirement from her job in forensics at the Home Office in London. Deciding to do something for herself, Penelope buys an old stone farmhouse in the Luberon valley of Provence, a region in southeastern France.
Located in the (fictional) village of St. Merlot, the farmhouse, named “Le Chant d’Eau” (The Song of Water), is an impulse buy because it needs major renovations, although it does have a garden, a swimming pool, and sweeping mountain vistas. Penelope moves in and starts her new adventure, but she did not think her new life would begin with her finding a corpse in her swimming pool.
Now, Penelope must navigate colorful French locals, like her realtor Mme. Clémence Valencourt; dashing Mayor Laurent Millais; disdainful Chief of Police Georges Reyssens and Inspector Paul Gamelin; and mysterious neighbor, the farmer Pierre Louchard, to name a few. Thankfully, Penelope's oldest friend, Frances Turner-Blake a.k.a. Frankie, is just a flight away. She will need Frankie. The answers to this crime are buried in the unique culture and shadowy history of both the village of St. Merlot and in Penelope's beloved, but troubled new home, “Le Chant d’Eau,”
Readers who enjoy mystery novels in the tradition of Agatha Christie will like Death in Provence. It reminds me of those Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (HMM) made-for-television mystery movies that feature intrepid professional women who play sleuth and amateur detective on the side. Regular HMM viewers are familiar with such television movie series as the “Garage Sale Mysteries” and the “Morning Show Mysteries,” so I think that this new Serena Kent novel will also seem familiar to HMM viewers.
Death in Provence could also be an installment of the classic cozy mystery series, “Murder, She Wrote.” In fact, when I think about it, Serena Kent may be offering a modern, British update of Jessica Fletcher, the star of “Murder, She Wrote,” an American character played by Angela Lansbury, the London-born actress who also has American citizenship.
I like Penelope Kent. No, she is not Sara Paretsky's rough-and-tumble V.I. Warshawski, but Penelope does her thing. Her resourcefulness, even when she is flustered, helps to make Death in Provence a delightful read, imbued with the color of Provence, the character of its eccentric citizens, and the flavor of its foods and wines (which puts Penelope at war with her weight). Readers should not be fooled, as Death in Provence can be surprisingly edgy in spots. This is a story of murder most foul, after all.
So the Penelope Kite series is off to a good start, and I think the series will find an identity as we see Penelope Kite take on more killers and more colorful characters. For now, Death in Provence demands that you find a cozy corner and delight your mystery lover's imagination.
7 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 syndication rights and fees.
---------------------------
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Review: SIMPSONS COMICS Showstopper
HARPERCOLLINS/Harper Design – @HarperCollins @harperdesignbks @TheSimpsons
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Ian Boothby; Mary Trainor; Len Wein; Chuck Dixon
PENCILS: Phil Ortiz; John Costanza
INKS: Mike DeCarlo; Phyllis Novin
COLORS: Art Villanueva
LETTERS: Karen Bates
EDITOR: Bill Morrison
COVER: Matt Groening
ISBN: 978-0-06-287877-9; paperback (February 5, 2019)
128pp, Color, $16.99 U.S., $21.00 CAN
“The Simpsons” created by Matt Groening
Since 2016, HarperCollins' imprint, Harper Design, has been sending me review copies of its full-color trade paperbacks that reprint comic books based on “The Simpson's” animated television series. Those comics have been published by Bongo Comics since 1993.
Simpsons Comics Showstopper (the fifth that I have received) is the newest trade paperback in the series. Simpsons Comics Showstopper collects stories from Simpsons Comics issues #127, #128, #129, #132, and #133 (published between February and August 2007).
“The Simpsons,” produced first run for the Fox Broadcasting Company, presents a satirical depiction of a working class family which consists of Homer Simpson (the father), Marge Simpson (the mother), Bart (the oldest child and only son), Lisa (the precocious and brilliant elder daughter), and Maggie (a baby girl). “The Simpsons” also parodies American culture, pop culture, society, politics, media, etc. via the denizens of The Simpsons home town, Springfield.
Simpsons Comics Showstopper opens with “25” (written by Ian Boothby and drawn by Phil Ortiz and Mike DeCarlo). It is a parody of Fox's long-running, live-action television series, “24.” Homer is late for work... again. Meanwhile, at his place of employment, Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, his boss Montgomery Burns, believes that he has killed Homer. His solution to cover up this supposed crime – set the plant to meltdown! Now, only Homer can save the plant and Springfield, but can he make it to work on time – when he hasn't after being twelve hours late?!
In “Simpson Family Robinson Crusoe” (written by Mary Trainor and drawn by John Costanza and Phyllis Novin), we get a Simpsons spin on two classics of Western literature, Robinson Crusoe (1719) and The Swiss Family Robinson (1812). In “You'd Better Sloth Around” (written by Len Wein and drawn by Costanza and Novin), Homer buys a “Hoveround”-like vehicle called the “Sloth-Around,” despite his family's objections to that purchase. Homer becomes a menace on the thing, but karma might have a surprise for him.
“A Brand New Burns Part One!” and “Part Two,” are written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Costanza and Novin. In the story, Montgomery Burns and his loyal confidant, Smithers, travel to Mexico where Burns will spend some time at “Rancho Segundo Posibilidad” for rejuvenation treatments. So why does Burns end up in a sweatshop? Why is Smithers back in Springfield with a younger Burns?
The comic book stories in Simpsons Comics Showstopper are inventive, full-length tales. The best of the lot is “A Brand New Burns,” if for no other reason than the famous and infamous people writer Chuck Dixon depicts as being denizens of Hell. Artists John Costanza and Phyllis Novin and colorist Art Villanueva deliver a few graphically striking panels, especially the ones that depict Montgomery naked and floating/swimming towards the afterlife.
“You'd Better Sloth-Around” epitomizes one of the things that “The Simpsons” does so well, satirize the American desire to get over on people and to beat the system. “Simpson Family Robinson Crusoe” is a cute send-up of the source material. That may be the best way to define the comics in Simpsons Comics Showstopper – cute, nice, and entertaining, but none of this material is great. This collection may satisfy Simpsons comic book fans, but it is not an exceptional Simpsons comics collection, which I can say about some of the others (like 2018's Bart Simpson Bust-Up).
7 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.
-----------------
Monday, March 25, 2019
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for March 27, 2019
BOOM! STUDIOS
JAN191411 ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 #6 MAIN $3.99
JAN191412 ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 #6 PREORDER BENBASSAT $3.99
JAN191398 AVANT-GUARDS #3 (OF 12) MAIN $3.99
JAN191399 AVANT-GUARDS #3 (OF 12) PREORDER MCGEE VAR $3.99
JAN191371 BONE PARISH #8 (OF 12) $3.99
JAN198616 BONE PARISH #8 (OF 12) FOC REBELKAH VAR $3.99
JAN191374 CODA #10 (OF 12) MAIN & MIX $3.99
NOV181313 CODA TP VOL 01 $9.99
JAN191392 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #8 (OF 12) MAIN CVR DEWEY $3.99
JAN191393 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #8 (OF 12) PREORDER PETERSEN $3.99
JAN191390 JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #12 MAIN $3.99
JAN191391 JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #12 PREORDER GODBEY VAR $3.99
JAN198617 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 FOC MERCADO VAR $3.99
JAN191380 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 MAIN $3.99
JAN191381 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 PREORDER GALLOWAY VAR $3.99
NOV181319 PLANET OF THE APES WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE TP $14.99
JAN191386 WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2019 SPECIAL #1 MAIN $7.99
JAN191387 WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2019 SPECIAL #1 PREORDER XERMANICO VAR $7.99
JAN191411 ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 #6 MAIN $3.99
JAN191412 ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 #6 PREORDER BENBASSAT $3.99
JAN191398 AVANT-GUARDS #3 (OF 12) MAIN $3.99
JAN191399 AVANT-GUARDS #3 (OF 12) PREORDER MCGEE VAR $3.99
JAN191371 BONE PARISH #8 (OF 12) $3.99
JAN198616 BONE PARISH #8 (OF 12) FOC REBELKAH VAR $3.99
JAN191374 CODA #10 (OF 12) MAIN & MIX $3.99
NOV181313 CODA TP VOL 01 $9.99
JAN191392 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #8 (OF 12) MAIN CVR DEWEY $3.99
JAN191393 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #8 (OF 12) PREORDER PETERSEN $3.99
JAN191390 JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #12 MAIN $3.99
JAN191391 JIM HENSON LABYRINTH CORONATION #12 PREORDER GODBEY VAR $3.99
JAN198617 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 FOC MERCADO VAR $3.99
JAN191380 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 MAIN $3.99
JAN191381 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #37 PREORDER GALLOWAY VAR $3.99
NOV181319 PLANET OF THE APES WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE TP $14.99
JAN191386 WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2019 SPECIAL #1 MAIN $7.99
JAN191387 WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2019 SPECIAL #1 PREORDER XERMANICO VAR $7.99
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