Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 10, 2023

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV222086 100 GIRLFRIENDS WHO REALLY LOVE YOU GN VOL 06 (MR) $13.99

MAR231391 ADHERENT GN $20.00

FEB231056 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE WRAITH & SON #1 CVR A $3.99

FEB231057 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE WRAITH & SON #1 CVR B WRAITH WAGON VAR $3.99

SEP221506 ART OF DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA HC $65.00

FEB231532 BACK TO FAIRTAYLIA #5 (OF 6) $4.99

MAR231835 BANSHEES #2 (OF 5) $4.99

MAR231694 BINKY THE SPACE CAT TOP SECRET COLLECTION $44.99

DEC222006 BY THE GRACE OF GODS GN VOL 08 $12.99

JAN231160 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR A MAIN ROPP $3.99

JAN231161 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR B VICTIMS HANSEL $3.99

JAN231162 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR C SHINING HOMAGE HANSEL $3.99

FEB239325 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR D AM EXC HOMAGE FOC $6.99

JUN222199 CHASING AFTER AOI KOSHIBA GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99

OCT222214 COLORLESS GN VOL 04 (MR) $14.99

FEB231697 COUNT DANTE #1 (OF 6) CVR A CARY NORD $4.99

FEB231698 COUNT DANTE #1 (OF 6) CVR B WES WATSON $4.99

OCT221992 CRIMSON STORM #2 $3.99

MAR231516 DAUGHTERS OF SNOW & CINDERS $29.99

MAR232262 DEATH MAGE GN VOL 01 $12.95

MAR231449 DF AMAZING SPIDERMAN #800 HUGHES VIRGIN VAR $39.99

FEB231349 DF MARVEL COMICS BLANK VAR NICIEZA & DELBEATO HOMAGE SKETCH $99.99

MAR231492 DF MAY MADNESS MASHUP $55.55

MAR231475 DF PLANET OF APES #1 MOVIE ADAPTATION ALLIE SGN $29.99

MAR231478 DF SILVER SURFER #50 STARLIN SGN $500.00

MAR231456 DF SPIDER GWEN #1 BROOKS EXC $39.99

DEC221291 DF SUPERMAN #1 WILLIAMSON GOLD SGN $38.00

MAR231476 DF WARLOCK #10 STARLIN SGN $400.00

MAR231477 DF WARLOCK CHRONICLES #1 STARLIN SGN $500.00

MAR231521 DOG KNIGHT GN VOL 01 $14.99

MAR231522 DOG KNIGHT HC GN VOL 01 $22.99

MAR231719 DONT SPIT IN THE WIND #2 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN231375 DREAM MASTER #5 (OF 5) CVR A BARRICELLI & CURTO $4.99

JAN231376 DREAM MASTER #5 (OF 5) CVR B CARITA $4.99

MAR232174 FLY ME TO THE MOON GN VOL 17 (MR) $9.99

MAR231559 FOUR EYES HC GN VOL 01 $24.99

FEB231615 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #12 CVR B FRAZETTA $4.99

SEP222211 GAMBLING APOCALYPSE KAIJI GN VOL 04 (RES) $21.95

MAR231317 GATSBY GN (MR) $19.99

MAR232172 HELCK GN VOL 03 $9.99

FEB231073 HEROINE HEAVEN #2 $5.95

NOV222167 HIDDEN DUNGEON ONLY I CAN ENTER GN VOL 08 $12.99

MAR232263 HINAMATSURI GN VOL 18 $11.95

AUG222177 I AM NOT A SUCCUBUS GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.99

MAR231565 I CAN READ COMICS GN TYS TRAVELS CAMP OUT $5.99

MAR231846 IMPOSSIBLE JONES & CAPT LIGHTNING #1 CVR A  HAHN $5.99

MAR231578 INCAL THE DYING STAR HC (MR) $24.99

MAR231849 KEEPERS OF THE COSMOS #1 CVR A AGUNG PRABOWO $4.99

MAR231725 LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #5 (OF 12) (MR) $3.99

MAR232009 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR A KNOTT (MR) $3.99

MAR232010 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR B IUMAZARK (MR) $3.99

MAR232011 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR C MEDEIROS (MR) $3.99

MAR232012 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR D KNOTT VIRGIN (MR) $9.99

MAR232175 MAO GN VOL 11 (MR) $9.99

MAR232140 MEGUMI & TSUGUMI GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99

MAR231503 MISTER NO ATLANTIC GN $16.99

JAN231707 MONKEY KING COMP ODYSSEY GN $29.99

DEC222010 MY HAPPY MARRIAGE GN VOL 03 $12.99

MAR232164 MY HERO ACADEMIA VIGILANTES GN VOL 14 $9.99

NOV222198 MY SECRET AFFECTION GN VOL 02 $13.99

FEB231875 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR A FAJARDO $7.99

FEB231876 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR B OTERO $7.99

FEB231877 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR C LOMOV $7.99

FEB231878 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR D ALFREDO REYES $7.99

FEB231807 NASTY #2 CVR A CAHOON (RES) $4.99

FEB231808 NASTY #2 CVR B CANTIRINO (RES) $4.99

NOV221201 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR A PHOTO $3.99

NOV221202 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR B CORPSE CREW $4.99

NOV221203 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR C CARACUZO $4.99

NOV221204 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR D LTD ED $9.99

FEB239610 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR E FOC PHOTO ED $4.99

MAR231419 OCTOBRIANA & UNDERGROUND FULL TILT BOOGIE #1 (OF 2) CVR A PA $3.99

MAR231175 OLIVIA JAIMES NANCY HC NANCY WINS AT FRIENDSHIP $12.99

MAR231311 PET PEEVES GN $16.95

JAN232016 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR A AL BARRIONUEVO $5.99

JAN232017 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR B IGOR VITORINO $5.99

JAN232018 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR C KEITH GARVEY $5.99

JAN232019 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR D ABBONDANZA $5.99

MAR232179 POKEMON ADVENTURES X Y GN VOL 05 $9.99

SEP222246 PTSD RADIO GN VOL 03 $19.99

MAR231861 QUICKSAND #1 CVR A LANCIANESE $4.99

FEB231533 RAVAGE TP (MR) $19.99

JAN232168 REBORN AS A VENDING MACHINE WANDER DUNGEON GN VOL 01 $13.00

MAR231939 ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD TP VOL 03 NEW PTG $21.99

MAR231940 ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD TP VOL 04 NEW PTG $21.99

MAR231780 RUCA CHICANA SUPERHERO GN $15.00

NOV221075 SAMURAI DOGGY #6 $3.99

MAR231119 SECOND COMING TRINITY #2 (OF 6) CVR A PACE (MR) $4.99

JAN231758 SILVER AGE CLASSIC MIDNIGHT COMICS SOFTEE $32.99

JAN231759 SILVER AGE CLASSICS GORGO SOFTEE VOL 02 $32.99

NOV222212 SKIP AND LOAFER GN VOL 07 $12.99

NOV222213 SLOW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD I WISH GN VOL 05 $12.99

SEP228047 SOLOIST IN A CAGE GN VOL 01 $14.99

JUN222183 SUNDOME MILKY WAY GN VOL 06 (MR) $14.99

MAR231695 THUNDERBOOM GN $16.99

MAR231804 TIG AND LILY GN BOOK 01 TIGER TROUBLE $10.99

DEC222016 TOKYO ALIENS GN VOL 03 $12.99

DEC222034 TWILIGHT OUT OF FOCUS GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

MAR231173 WE ARE THE SMURFS GN BRIGHT NEW DAYS $12.99

FEB231379 WINTER EMBER #1 (OF 8) $3.99

MAR232157 WOLF GIRL BLACK PRINCE GN VOL 01 $9.99

MAR231208 WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #25 $9.99

MAR232177 YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 21 $9.99

MAGAZINES

MAR231386 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1864 $PI

JAN231742 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #588 $13.99

BOOKS

JAN231688 ART OF PINK FLOYD THE WALL HC $200.00

NOV222233 CASE FILES OF JEWELER RICHARD LIGHT NOVEL VOL 04 (MR) $14.99

NOV222234 CLASSROOM OF ELITE YEAR 2 L NOVEL VOL 04 4.5 $14.99

MAR231737 DARK AVENGER STRANGE SAGA OF THE SHADOW SC $29.95

FEB231313 GLAMOUR GIRLS OF PARIS SC 2 FRENCH PIN UP MAGS (MR) $24.95

NOV222239 I SWEAR I WONT BOTHER YOU AGAIN LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03 $14.99

MAR231113 MARVEL SCHOOL OF X NOVEL SC PHOENIX CHASE $16.95

MAR231576 ONE COOL DUCK GN VOL 01 $8.99

MAR231418 SNIPPETS 52 WEEKS OF DIARY COMICS $19.99

MAR232265 WRONG WAY USE HEALING MAGIC L NOVEL VOL 02 $14.95

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DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for May 9, 2023

DC COMICS:

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #8 (Cover A Erich Owen), $2.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover B Alan Quah Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover C Isaac Goodhart AAPI Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover D John Timms Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover A Scott Godlewski), $3.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover B Danny Earls Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover C Francis Manapul Villain Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover D Hayden Sherman Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Sean Murphy), $4.99

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Mirka Andolfo), $4.99

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Dan Mora), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Sean Murphy Black & White Variant), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Sean Murphy Foil Variant), AR

Danger Street #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $4.99

Danger Street #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Gotham Academy Maps Of Mystery #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Karl Kerschl), $5.99

Gotham Academy TP, $39.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover A Xermanico), $4.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover B Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover C Ivan Reis Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover D Pete Woods 5th Color Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover E Daniel Sampere Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern #1 (Cover F Ariel Colon Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern #1 (Cover G Xermanico Card Stock Variant), AR

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Rahzzah), $4.99

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Mateus Manhanini), $4.99

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover C Darryl Banks), AR

Looney Tunes #272 (Cover A Derek Fridolfs), $2.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $4.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Tyler Kirkham Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover C Amanda Conner Card Stock Variant), AR

New Champion Of Shazam HC, $19.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Reiko Murakami), $3.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Michael Walsh Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover C Javier Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), AR

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover D Joelle Jones Card Stock Variant), AR

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Haining), $3.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Dustin Nguyen Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Zu Orzu AAPI Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Trung Le Nguyen Card Stock Variant), AR

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Haining Card Stock Variant), AR

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Todd Nauck), $3.99

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Marguerite Sauvage Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover C Kevin Maguire Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover A Carlo Pagulayan & Jason Paz), $4.99

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover B Lee Weeks Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover C Tony Harris Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman Son Of Kal-El Volume 3 Battle For Gamorra HC, $24.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover A Stephen Segovia), $3.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover B Clay Mann Card Stock Variant), $4.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover C Chuma Hill Card Stock Variant), AR

Wonder Woman Paradise Lost TP (2023 Edition), $19.99

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#IReadsYou Movie Review: "GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3"

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Running time:  150 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/drug references and thematic elements

DIRECTOR:  James Gunn

WRITER:  James Gunn (based on the Marvel Comics characters)

PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Henry Braham (D.o.P.)

EDITORS:  Fred Raskin and Greg D'Auria

COMPOSER:  John Murphy

SCI-FI/FANTASY and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Chukwudi Iwuji, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Nico Santos, Miriam Shor, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Gregg Henry, and the voices of Linda Cardellini, Seth Green, Maria Bakalova, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a 2023 science fiction, comedy, and action-adventure film written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Marvel Studios.  It is the third film in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy film series, following 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy and 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.  It is also the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  Vol. 3 finds the Guardians fighting to save one of their members from his creator, a mission that may destroy the Guardians whether they are successful or not.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens on Knowhere, the strange space station where the Guardians of the Galaxy have established their headquarters.  Their leader, Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), mourns the loss of his girlfriend, Gamora (Zoe Saldana).  The alien warlord, Thanos, killed Gamora (as seen in Avengers: Infinity War), but an alternate universe version of her appeared (as seen in Avengers: Endgame).  This new Gamora does not love Peter, and she associates with The Ravagers, which was once essentially Peter's surrogate family.

The group has bigger troubles ahead.  The Guardians are being targeted by the “Sovereign” empress Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), someone with a grudge against them (as seen in Vol. 2).  She sends her son, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), to attack the Guardians, and he grievously wounds Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper).  To save Rocket, Peter and his fellow Guardians:  Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and a reluctant Gamora, must confront The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), the Counter-Earth scientist who created Rocket.

The original Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the surprise hits of 2014, if not the surprise hit of the year.  Vol. 2 was a fun sci-fi-action movie and a surprisingly thoughtful character melodrama.  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does everything the first two films did well and amplifies that.  Vol. 3 is the series' funniest film, and I found myself laughing throughout it.  That still surprises me because this movie has some pretty dark moments, especially concerning The High Evolutionary, who is superbly played with volcanic intensity and unremitting cruelty by the most excellent Chuckwudi Iwuji.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one of Marvel Studios' best films in years.  I think it works for three reasons.  First, the film's production values and special effects are impressive.  The CGI-created environments, backdrops, sets (interiors and exteriors), space-ways, worlds, etc. are so dazzling in scope, color, and imagination that they surpass the impressive work of the first two films, especially the second film.  The entire entire “Orgoscope” sequence is an eye-popping collection of inventiveness.  Even the menagerie of people, creatures, and robots exceeds the first two film, probably combined.

The acting is quite good, and that makes me want to engage the characters even more.  Chris Pratt gives his best tern as Peter Quill/Star-Lord – drama, pathos, big emotions, and the sarcasm and quips are still here – but with edginess.  This is the first time that I really hoped that Star-Lord would be a long term MCU character.  It is so shocking that Zoe Saldana can convince me that she is a different Gamora.  Karen Gillan as Nebula and Pom Klementieff as Mantis do superb work with the character arcs that the story gives them.  As Drax the Destroyer, Dave Bautista makes the character seem not extraneous for the first time.  Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper as always are winning in their voice roles as Groot and Rocket, respectively, with Diesel bringing some extra to Groot this time.

The third reason Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is so damn good is writer-director James Gunn.  This is Gunn at the peak of his powers.  Honestly, I liked Vol. 2 so much that I didn't think he could top himself, but he does with this third film.  I did find Vol. 3 a little dry and too dark in the beginning, but once it grabbed me, it would not let go.

This film has a heart – a center that is about the struggle to help a friend or family member no matter how bad his or her troubles might be or even if he or she resists and rejects the help.  In Vol. 3, Gunn makes all the characters unique individuals with wants, needs, goals, conflicts, and melodrama.  However, the best thing that Gunn does is accept that even the most intense relationships change, so he lets some of the characters move on.  The result is a last act for the ages and a closing sequence that recalls the beginning of the original film and leaves the viewer with the warmest feelings.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in the U.S. today, May 5, 2023.  That is 15 years and a few days after the release of the first MCU film, Iron Man (2008).  Vol. 3 exemplifies something that I just realize runs throughout Marvel Studios' film.  In almost all of them, a dominant theme is the formation of surrogate families.  Friends, enemies, heroes, and sometimes even the villains come together in a unit that is more than just a group of friends; they are family.  In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn gives us the end of one version of the family as it evolves into something larger.  What makes Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an amazing film is that it is as heartwarming as it is exciting and thrilling.  Yes, there are big, mesmerizing action set pieces, but by the end, I really believe that these guys love one another.  I could watch it forever.

9 of 10

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

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

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #22

KILLADELPHIA #22
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander with Germán Erramouspe and Nicole Palmquist
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Elia Bonetti
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (May 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Killadelphia and Elysium Gardens created by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander

“The End of All” Part IV: “The Conversation”

Killadelphia is an apocalyptic vampire and dark fantasy comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander and is published by Image Comics.  At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.”  Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.

Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. and his father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr., thought to be dead.  He is actually a vampire.  Now father and son lead a ragtag team comprised of a medical examiner (Jose Padilla), a dead president, and a rebellious, but special young vampire (Tevin Thompkins a.k.a. “See Saw”) in a bid to save Philly from an ambitious and murderous former First Lady, Abigail Adams.

As Killadelphia #22 (“The Conversation”) opens, Abigail and her coven are having an unpleasant conversation among themselves.  It gets more unpleasant when (vampire) George Washington, See Saw, and Aelio arrive for a deeper conversation.  It seems that these different factions must come together because the one true vampire king has returned to claim his throne and to lay waste to America.

Meanwhile, Jimmy and Tituba, the Stregherian witch, are still searching for See Saw.  They may have to throw more light on the situation than they expected... and they are also due for some conversation.

THE LOWDOWN:  We have entered the second half of Killadelphia's fourth story arc, “The End of All.”  It is an outta sight arc, and individually, so is Chapter Four, which resides under Jason Shawn Alexander's sexy-back cover.

Writer Rodney Barnes is a writer and executive producer on HBO's event series, “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”  Reading Killadelphia is also a winning time because pretty much every issue introduces something entirely new that is entirely consequential, and totally amazing.  Killadelphia #22 is a basket of dark fantasy delights, featuring characters that could carry their own series, especially Tituba.  Here, what makes the characters rich is not so much their personalities as it is what they want.

Killadelphia #22 may also be the first time that I realized how artist Jason Shawn Alexander and colorist Luis Nct have managed to create such a menagerie of vampires and individual characters.  The characters with speaking roles have a unique look, and the coloring gives each one a visual and graphic personality.  It is a feast for the eyes and for the imagination.

Killadelphia #22 makes me feel like I have rediscovered the series, in a way.  Dear readers, I want you to discover it, also.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.

A+

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


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The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: X-MEN GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS Extended Cut #1

X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT #1 (OF 2)
MARVEL COMICS

STORY: Christopher Claremont
ART: Brent Eric Anderson
COLORS: Steve Oliff
LETTERS: Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Louise Jones (original); Jennifer Grunwald (extended cut)
EiC: Jim Shooter (original); Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski (extended cut)
COVER: Salvador Larroca with Guru-eFX
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Brent Anderson; Rod Reis; Giuseppe Camuncoli and Erick Arciniega
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  In The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963), readers were introduced to a professor who was also team-leader to his students.  Each student had unique powers and abilities because he or she was a “mutant.”

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel Graphic Novel #5) was an original graphic novel published in 1982 by Marvel Comics.  It was written by Christopher Claremont and illustrated by Brent Eric Anderson.  Colorist Steve Oliff and letterer Tom Orzechowski completed the graphic novel's creative team.  The story pits the X-Men and their longtime enemy, Magneto, against a fanatical religious leader bent on exterminating “mutantkind.”  The graphic novel went on to become one of the most popular and beloved X-Men stories of all time.  Elements of the God Loves, Man Kills were used in the 2003 X-Men, film, X2: X-Men United.

Back in 2020, Marvel republished X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills as a two-issue miniseries, entitled X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The series divides the story in two parts and brackets it with a new ten-page framing sequence or story produced by the original story's creating team.  The first issue of this “extended cut” opens with five pages of the framing sequence and the second issue ends with the other five pages.

In this new sequence, the member of the X-Men known as Kitty Pryde and her pet dragon, Lockheed, are in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty visits a young woman named Kate who met Erik Lehnsherr a.k.a. “Magneto.”  Kitty has decided to tell the young woman the story that is X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut #1 opens in the “Gold Star Cafe,” somewhere in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty Pryde of the X-Men meets Kate, a friend of Magneto, and decides to tell her the story of a time when Kitty was new to the X-Men and was known by the code name, Ariel.

Once upon a time, there was a popular and fanatical religious leader named William Stryker who led a religious organization called the “Stryker Crusade.”  Under the guise of evangelical Christianity, Stryker hatched a plot to destroy all mutants on Earth.  To begin, Stryker targeted Charles Xavier a.k.a. Professor X, the lynch pin to his plot.

To get to Xavier, Stryker will have to go through the X-Men:  Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Kitty Pryde/Ariel.  To fight the X-Men, Stryker had a strike force, a form of armor-wearing men he called the “Purifiers.”

Professor X and his X-Men were unaware of the danger to their lives.  Colossus' younger sister, Illyana, was also living with the team.  After Professor X and two of his X-Men are captured, the X-Men begin to fight back, but they will find themselves needing help from the greatest enemy, Magneto.

THE LOWDOWN:  I read X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills several times in my youth, but prior to reading this reprint series, I don't think that I had read it in decades.  I didn't read the sequel to it that Chris Claremont wrote for his former X-Men comic book series, X-Treme X-Men (2001-04).  Entitled “God Love, Man Kills Part II, it ran from X-Treme X-Men #25 (July 2003) to X-Treme X-Men #30 (October 2003).  The entire story line was collected in the trade paperback, X-Treme X-Men Vol. 5: God Love, Man Kills (October 2003).

It turns out that I had forgotten quite a bit of “God Loves, Man Kills.”  That includes the action-packed final battle against the Purifiers and that final debate with William Stryker at the “Stryker Building.”  I also had forgotten that Claremont has Kitty Pryde use the term “nigger-lover” in anger at Stevie Hunter.  An African-America woman, Stevie was a recurring, non-mutant character, who mostly appeared in The Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants in the early 1980s.  Four decades later, I have to say that I don't like that scene very much and I'm not happy about the use of that term.  I'm not surprised that Marvel did not remove it, but I am sure that it would not be used today in a scene of a similar context.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is a pivotal point in the publication history of the X-Men.  I believe that the X-Men began as a group of costume adventurers and superheroes who were defined by the fact that they were mutants and who faced prejudice because of it.  However, the original X-Men comic book series also focused on the action and was essentially an adventure serial.

After the debut of the “new X-Men” in 1974, writer Chris Claremont wrote the X-Men comic book as a serialized soap opera, although the X-Men team of the time traveled around the world having adventures and facing one peril after another.  Under Claremont, the X-Men and mutants, in general, became outcasts because of their mutant status.  No matter what they did as superheroes, being a mutant overshadowed or defined their actions.

Eventually, the X-Men, which was eventually re-titled “Uncanny X-Men,” became a comic book in which the narrative focused on prejudice, bigotry, racism, and hate.  The X-Men's struggles were a metaphor for the struggles of persecuted and hated minority groups fighting to be accepted by the wider society.  What made them different did not make them “less human” was a recurring theme, even as the traveled around the world and off it.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was the point of no return.  Never again would the The Uncanny X-Men and its various spin-off series really be about adventure.  Past, present, and future – even future-past – would be about the mutant struggle and what forms the struggle would take.  Eventually, the X-Men would become a franchise that was insular and redundant.  I think that is why over time the Uncanny X-Men went from being a bestselling comic book franchise to being in the shadow of titles like Avengers, Batman, and Justice League, to name a few.

The mutant struggle became repetitive and tired and it began with a really memorable story, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.  The X-Men were once mutants who really wanted to prove that they could be the kind of superheroes who protected both mutants and humans and fought to save a world upon which both shared.  Then, the X-Men became just mutants.

Apparently, individual issues of comic books that are reprints of other individual comic books have been popular with buyers for more than a decade.  That is the only reason to reprint X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The X-Men are not as relevant as they once were, and the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was rendered irrelevant by repetition of its themes long ago.

As for the new framing sequence:  there is a kernel of something relevant in Claremont's scenario.  And Brent Anderson's art reminds us that he is still an important artist in the history of X-Men publications despite his small output in the franchise.  If one of the themes of X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was and still is “hope,” then, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut, at least for me, suggests that there is hope for the X-Men  It is hope that the franchise can be more than what it is now – a consumer product, an intellectual property (IP), and for some, a fetish.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills will want to give X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut a try.

[This comic book includes two interviews, one with Chris Claremont and one with Brent Anderson.]

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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