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MAGAZINES
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BOOKS
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Monday, October 21, 2019
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Review: COVER #1
DC COMICS/Jinxworld – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: David Mack
COLORS: Zu Orzu
LETTERS: Carlos Mangual
EDITOR: Michael McCalister
COVER: David Mack
VARIANT COVERS: Zu Orzu
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)
Rated “M” for “Mature”
Cover created by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack
Cover is a new comic book series from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist David Mack, two of the most interesting comic book creators of the last two decades. Through work on various Spider-Man titles, his creator-owned Powers, and other work, Bendis has proved to be an all-time great comic book writer. Mack's striking illustrations, comic book graphics, and cover paintings mark him as a master of comics art. Cover focuses on an indy comic book artist who finds himself drawn into the world of international espionage and intrigue.
Cover #1 opens in the middle of a hectic crowd scene at a comic book convention. Max Field is just another independent comic book creator and artist hawking his wares from behind a convention table. Out of nowhere, a mysterious (and apparently wealthy) fan appears before Max's table, praising his art. She even spends a few thousand dollars buying original art from Max's comic book, “Ninja Sword Odyssey.” This encounter and financial windfall will not be the last time Max meets the woman who might be his biggest fan, Julia.
I don't have much to say about Cover #1 (although I have been known to ramble even after saying this) because Bendis and Mack are, as I said above, masters. Cover #1 is filled with Bendis' exquisite dialogue and his hypnotic narrative flow. Every panel of this story is a drug that hooks the reader into going to the next panel in order to get his or her story fix.
Mack's illustrations tell an intoxicating graphical story; I would not expect less of him. Zu Orzu's gorgeous digital coloring captures Mack's lovely way of drawing Julia's beautiful Black woman's face. Carlos Mangual's lettering adds to the beauty of these graphics, and his word balloons create a kind of lyrical flow to Bendis' dialogue.
See. The creative team is made up of masters of the medium and veteran heavy hitters. The story may be a little far-fetched (or maybe not...), but when top creators produce something, it is worth a look. Cover #1 is worthy of several looks.
9 out of 10
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.
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Friday, October 18, 2019
Review: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: Wakanda Forever #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Nnedi Okorafor
ART: Alberto Alburquerque
COLORS: Erick Arciniega
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Wil Moss
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Terry & Rachel Dodson
VARIANT COVER: Yasmine Putri
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2018)
Rated “T”
Dora Milaje created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira; Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee
Chapter One: “A Strange Little Birdie”
Wakanda Forever is a series of one-shot comic books that feature the “Dora Milaje” of the Black Panther comic book line in team-ups with various Marvel Comics superheroes. Dora Milaje is the all-female warrior elite of Wakanda. Their original mission was to protect Wakanda's king, the Black Panther, and the royal family. They recently ended that arrangement and protect Wakanda as a whole.
The Dora Milaje first appeared in Black Panther #1, the first issue of a new Black Panther series that was released under the then new Marvel Comics imprint, “Marvel Knights.” Black Panther was created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee.
The first Wakanda Forever comic books is Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever. It is written by Nnedi Okorafor; drawn by Alberto Alburquerque; colored by Erick Arciniega; and lettered by Joe Sabino. This comic book units Spider-Man and the Dora Milaje on a mission to discover if dangerous Wakandan tech has been cloned.
Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever #1 opens in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Malice, a former Dora Milaje named Nakia, is using a “Mimic-27,” a Dora Milaje weapon, on civilians. The Amazing Spider-Man arrives on the scene to save the victims of Malice's attack, but finds himself under siege.
Okoye, Aneka, and Ayo of the Dora Milaje arrive to put a stop to Malice, but Spider-Man and these fierce warriors some discover something even more troubling. Allies of Malice may have cloned Mimic-27, and the heroes have no choice but make sure if that did or did not happen.
The Dora Milaje have exploded onto the general consciousness of American pop culture, thanks to their appearance in Disney/Marvel's record-setting, blockbuster film, Black Panther (2018). They were the stars of the short-lived series, Black Panther: World of Wakanda (2017). They are so engaging and endearing in all their bold and fierce glory. Plus, seeing Black women depicted as fierce, fearless warriors is a revelation to many comic book readers, and because such characters are a rarity, they have managed to fill a need in comics storytelling that many of us apparently have.
The Nigerian-American writer, Nnedi Okorafor, has won many awards for her writing in the genres of fantasy and science fiction, including a Hugo Award. Sadly, Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever #1 is merely a buy-the-book Marvel comic book of the Spider-Man variety. The appearance of the Dora Milaje is the only thing that is fresh and different in this comic book, and truthfully, Okorafor could have replaced the Dora Milaje and the villain with any number of Marvel Comics female characters, and the story would have basically been the same. Disappointing, but true.
The illustrations by Alberto Alburquerque and colors by Erick Arciniega are pretty, but the storytelling is nothing spectacular, especially considering the explosive potential of the Dora Milaje. Even Joe Sabino's lettering lacks spark
I was looking forward to this Wakanda Forever series, but something told me not to go overboard with my expectations. Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever #1 is not bad, but considering who the writer is and who the stars are...
6 out of 10
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.
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Thursday, October 17, 2019
Review: PEARL #1
DC COMICS/Jinxworld – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Michael Gaydos
COLORS: Michael Gaydos
LETTERS: Josh Reed
EDITOR: Michael McCalister
COVER: Michael Gaydos
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Maleev
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2018)
Rated “M” for “Mature”
Pearl created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos
Pearl is the title of a new comic book series from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos, the creators of Marvel Comics' Jessica Jones. The series focuses on an accidental assassin whose life changes when she meets another assassin who is like her in some ways.
Pearl #1 opens in San Francisco and introduces Pearl, who is an exceptional tattoo artist and also an assassin for one of modern-day San Fran's yakuza clans. Then, at a coffee shop, Pearl meets Rick, who recognizes a tattoo on her wrist, a work of art executed by the legendary and reclusive tattoo artist, Iriguci. The meeting, an act of serendipity or of fate, drags Pearl deeper into a world of violence that she is desperate to escape.
I can keep this review short. I love Pearl. Brian Bendis' writing is blunt and straight to the point in a way that reminds me of the late Darwyn Cooke's comics adaptation of Richard Stark's Parker prose novels. Sparse dialogue and powerful confrontations drive this narrative. Letterer Joshua Reed emphasizes the directness of the dialogue with his emotive lettering.
Michael Gaydos'a illustrations and graphical storytelling offer stunning background detail and beautiful facial drawings. Gaydos also draws some of the most elegant figures in clothing that I have ever seen in comic books. I did not know comic book characters could “wear it” so well.
Pearl #1, as a bonus, includes the first Bendis/Gaydos collaboration, which is a Batman short story from The Batman Chronicles #21 (cover dated: Summer 2000). It is a cute novelty piece, but cannot match the power of the main story, the work of two now accomplished, veteran comic book creators.
[This comic book contains a reprint of the Batman “Elseworlds” story, “Citizen Wayne,” by Bendis, Gaydos, Janice Chiang, and Patricia Mulvihill.]
9 out of 10
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.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Manga Review: NO GUNS LIFE: Volume 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
MANGAKA: Tasuku Karasuma
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
EDITOR: Mike Montessa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1045-4; paperback (September 2019); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
248pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.
No Guns Life is a seinen manga (comics for adult men) series by Tasuku Karasuma. It has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Ultra Jump, since August 2014. VIZ Media is publishing the manga in English as a series of graphic novels under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.
No Guns Life, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) is set in an indeterminate future, after the end of a “Great War.” One group of fighters in that war was known as the “Extended.” The Extended are cyborg soldiers whose bodies were transformed via “physical function extension,” also known as “Extended surgery.”
After the war, the Extended were discharged. One of them is Juzo Inui, a man whose body was transformed, and his head was replaced with a giant gun. He has no memory of his previous life or knowledge of who specifically replaced his head or why. Inui now scratches out a living in the dark streets of the city as a “Resolver,” one who resolves issues or takes on cases involving the Extended. Now, Inui finds himself protecting, Tetsuro Arahabaki, a child with very powerful connections, but also possessing technology that has made him the biggest target in the city.
The No Guns Life manga is intriguing simply because of its title. The striking cover art of the first volume – featuring Juzo Inui's gun head – is enough to encourage a reader to try, at least, the first volume.
No Guns Life Graphic Novel Volume 1, however, does not live up to the intensity that Inui's physical appearance suggests. The six chapters contained in Vol. 1 depict violence, but not enough to earn the book a “mature” rating; it is rated for “older teens.” There is, of course, nothing wrong with a teen-friendly rating, but, once again, that character design... The truth of the matter is that Inui and Tetsuro are intriguing and probably have wonderful back stories, but in this first volume, creator Tasuku Karasuma focuses mainly on introducing concepts, characters, and conflicts.
If I had to compare No Guns Life, Vol. 1 to an American comic book, I would say that it has passing similarities to Marvel's The Punisher and to DC Comics' Deathstroke. The difference is that Frank Castle/The Punisher and Slade Wilson/Deathstroke wield big guns, but neither has a big gun for a head. Although if they did, that would make for some cool one-off stories. Meanwhile, I really think the best of No Guns Life is yet to come.
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.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Book Review: THE LAST WIDOW
HARPERCOLLINS/William Morrow – @HarperCollins @WmMorrowBks
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter – @SlaughterKarin
ISBN: 978-0-06-285808-2; hardcover (August 20, 2019)
464pp, B&W, $27.99 U.S., $34.99 CAN
The Last Widow is a 2019 novel from American crime writer, Karin Slaughter. She is an international bestselling author who has sold millions of books in a multitude of languages around the world. The Last Widow stars the lead character from each of Slaughter's two book series.
The first is Will Trent, a special agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the star of the “Will Trent” series. The second is Sara Linton, a doctor and medical examiner from Slaughter's “Grant County” novels. The Last Widow finds Will and Sara trying to unravel the mystery of a impending terrorist attack that will take place somewhere in or around Atlanta, Georgia.
The Last Widow opens with three shocking events. First, on Sunday, July 7, 2019, Michelle Spivey, a scientist, is kidnapped from a shopping center parking lot one night while she is out with her daughter. On August 4, 2019, two explosions rock the campus of Emory University, a 600+ acre-complex that is the home of two major hospitals and also government agencies and institutes, including the FBI headquarters and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
George Bureau of Investigation agent Will Trent and the love of his life, Dr. Sara Linton, head for the scene the explosions in order to help civilians, each in the way he or she has been trained to do. However, what they first rush into is the scene of a multi-car accident. Sara immediately finds something peculiar about the accident scene, but by the time Will catches on to the oddities, Sara is in the clutches of a small group of highly-skilled and armed men.
After the assailants abduct Sara, Will throws himself into the case and goes undercover, putting his life on the line to save the woman he loves and to discover the kidnappers' plot, which may endanger the entire nation. Meanwhile, in the clutches of an extremist group, the Invisible Patriot Army (IPA), Sara meets the mysterious leader, a man known as “Dash,” who plans an attack that will rock the United States. But Sara can't quite figure out Dash's machinations, and she is running out of time and is hoping that Will can save her.
I have seen Karin Slaughter's name in book club magazines, on bookstore shelves, and in the emails online bookseller send me for more years than I can remember. The Last Widow is the first book of hers that I have read – thanks to a review galley copy I received from her publisher. After finishing The Last Widow, I realize that I should have been reading her books years ago.
The Last Widow is a crime thriller the way that Shakespeare's Hamlet is a historical drama – both defy convenient literary labels. The Last Widow is every post-9/11 nightmare blended into all three NCIS series, flavored with the police procedural, and a sprinkling of books, TV, and films about the FBI (which is practically a genre onto itself).
I am determined not to spoil neither the intricacies of this novel's narrative nor the ultimate diabolical design of Dash and the IPA. I will say that The Last Widow is pulse-pounding, ass-pounding, and heart-stopping. Warning! Reading it may cause sphincters to clinch. Everything about it – from the tactics of the heroes to the evil of the villains seems so real-life. Karin Slaughter offers a scenario so plausible that writing The Last Widow should get her put on some kind of FBI watch-list.
For all that makes this novel a potboiler, The Last Widow is filled with sparkling wit and pointed social commentary from a writer who is as witty and as sly as she is versed in the ways of law enforcement. Religious extremism, racism, and the Confederacy and segregation are among Slaughter's targets. Also, fans of her “Will Trent” series can take comfort that series regulars like Faith Mitchell and Amanda Wagner are supporting characters in The Last Widow.
Fans of her novels cannot let The Last Widow get past them. Readers of the genre known as “crime thriller” will want to discover Karin Slaughter and this absolutely fantastic novel. It may be the most explosive way to finish your summer reading.
9 out of 10
https://www.karinslaughter.com/
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.
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Monday, October 14, 2019
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for October 16, 2019
BOOM! STUDIOS
JUN191262 ANGEL LEGACY ED GN VOL 01 $29.99
JUN191293 CODA TP VOL 03 $14.99
AUG191376 FIREFLY #10 CVR A MAIN GARBETT $3.99
AUG191377 FIREFLY #10 CVR B PREORDER QUINONES VAR $3.99
AUG198138 FIREFLY #10 FOC SLINEY VAR $3.99
AUG198094 ONCE & FUTURE #2 (OF 6) (3RD PTG) $3.99
AUG191392 ONCE & FUTURE #3 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG191382 SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #2 $3.99
AUG198139 SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #2 FOC BERTRAM VAR $3.99
JUN191275 SPARROWS ROAR ORIGINAL GN $14.99
JUN191262 ANGEL LEGACY ED GN VOL 01 $29.99
JUN191293 CODA TP VOL 03 $14.99
AUG191376 FIREFLY #10 CVR A MAIN GARBETT $3.99
AUG191377 FIREFLY #10 CVR B PREORDER QUINONES VAR $3.99
AUG198138 FIREFLY #10 FOC SLINEY VAR $3.99
AUG198094 ONCE & FUTURE #2 (OF 6) (3RD PTG) $3.99
AUG191392 ONCE & FUTURE #3 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG191382 SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #2 $3.99
AUG198139 SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #2 FOC BERTRAM VAR $3.99
JUN191275 SPARROWS ROAR ORIGINAL GN $14.99
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