DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 2, 2019

DC COMICS

NOV180390    ACTION COMICS #1006    $3.99
NOV180391    ACTION COMICS #1006 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180398    BATGIRL #30    $3.99
NOV180399    BATGIRL #30 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180406    BATMAN BEYOND #27    $3.99
NOV180407    BATMAN BEYOND #27 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180554    BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS TP BOOK 02    $24.99
SEP180552    BATMAN PRODIGAL TP NEW ED    $24.99
SEP180557    BATMAN SHADOW THE MURDER GENIUSES TP    $16.99
NOV180416    BOOKS OF MAGIC #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180568    DARK DAYS ROAD TO METAL TP    $19.99
NOV180428    DETECTIVE COMICS #995    $3.99
NOV180429    DETECTIVE COMICS #995 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180438    FLASH #61    $3.99
NOV180439    FLASH #61 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180583    HAL JORDAN & THE GLC TP VOL 07 DARKSTARS RISING    $19.99
NOV180457    HEROES IN CRISIS #4 (OF 9)    $3.99
NOV180458    HEROES IN CRISIS #4 (OF 9) VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180461    HEX WIVES #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUN180578    HOUSE OF MYSTERY THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $99.99
NOV180464    INJUSTICE VS THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP180590    JINX TP NEW ED (MR)    $29.99
NOV180472    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #4    $3.99
NOV180473    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #4 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180453    OLD LADY HARLEY #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP180600    POWERS TP BOOK 02 NEW ED (MR)    $29.99
NOV180484    RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #11 (OF 12)    $3.99
NOV180488    SCARLET #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
NOV180491    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #45    $2.99
NOV180494    SILENCER #12    $2.99
OCT180612    SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE DELUXE ED HC    $29.99
OCT180615    SWEET TOOTH TP BOOK 03 (MR)    $24.99
NOV180507    TERRIFICS #11    $2.99
NOV180509    TITANS #32    $3.99
NOV180510    TITANS #32 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180619    WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY TP VOL 02    $16.99
NOV180517    WONDER WOMAN #61    $3.99
NOV180518    WONDER WOMAN #61 VAR ED    $3.99

Review: THE WILD STORM: Michael Cray #1

THE WILD STORM: MICHAEL CRAY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Warren Ellis
WRITER: Bryan Hill
PENCILS: N. Steven Harris
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Steve Buccellato
VARIANT COVER: Gene Ha
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+”

Michael Cray created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi

“Michael Cray – Chapter One”

Started by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, WildStorm Productions was one of the founding studios of Image Comics.  The WildStorm Universe was the fictional shared universe of comic books published by WildStorm and debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover dated: August 1992).

Jim Lee sold WildStorm Productions and his intellectual properties to DC Comics in 1999, and eventually the WildStorm Universe was folded into the DC Universe (DCU) proper.  It can be argued that the most interesting and perhaps, most influential comic books to come out of the WildStorm Universe came after that sale.  Those books were written by Warren Ellis (StormWatch, The Authority and Planetary).  Ellis is currently relaunching the characters, concepts, story lines, etc. of the Wildstorm Universe in his comic book, The Wild Storm, with artist Jon Davis-Hunt.

The first solo spin off series in the relaunch of “The Wild Storm” is The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  It is written by Bryan Hill with Warren Ellis contributing story.  The series is drawn by N. Steven Harris (pencils) and Dexter Vines (inks); colored by Steve Buccellato; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  Michael Cray also known as the professional assassin, Deathblow, first appeared in the comic book, Darker Image #1 (cover dated: March 1993).

Michael Cray seeks revenge against International Operations (I.O.) for the death sentence with which its has basically trapped him.  The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 finds Cray with an offer of help.  Christine Trelane will give him support, resources, medical aid, and a home, but she has targets that she want Cray to take out.  It starts with that sociopath Silicon Valley billionaire, Oliver Queen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  One reason is that in terms of story pacing and in graphical style, Michael Cray is like The Wild Storm comic book.  Writer Bryan Hill writes a script that allows the story to breathe, which in turns allows the reader to enjoy the surprises and shocks and the edginess the script delivers.  Just the Oliver Queen segments are quite enjoyable and enjoyably tart.

N. Steven Harris' compositions and the sharp inking Dexter Vines lays on them are similar to Jon Davis-Hunt's clean drawing style in The Wild Storm.  Harris and Vines deliver good storytelling while graphically tying their work to Ellis and Davis-Hunt's flagship title.  I like The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 and will be back for more.

A
8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 11, 2017

DC COMICS

APR170432    ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY HC VOL 01    $75.00
AUG170183    ACTION COMICS #989 (OZ EFFECT)    $2.99
AUG170182    ACTION COMICS #989 LENTICULAR ED  (OZ EFFECT)    $3.99
AUG170184    ACTION COMICS #989 VAR ED (OZ EFFECT)    $2.99
AUG170195    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #15    $3.99
AUG170196    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #15 VAR ED    $3.99
JUN170380    BATMAN FLASH THE BUTTON DELUXE ED HC (REBIRTH)    $19.99
JUN170381    BATMAN FLASH THE BUTTON DELUXE ED HC INTL ED (REBIRTH)    $19.99
AUG170286    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #3    $2.99
AUG178149    DARK NIGHTS METAL #2 (OF 6) 2ND PTG    $3.99
JUL170304    DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUL170305    DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6) KUBERT VAR ED    $3.99
JUL170306    DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6) LEE VAR ED    $3.99
JUL170307    DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6) ROMITA VAR ED    $3.99
JUL170471    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS TP VOL 05 DEATH OF ILLUSION    $16.99
AUG170365    DCTV THE FLASH 06 THE FLASH SEASON 3 AF    $28.00
JUN170400    DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR TP VOL 03 NUCLEAR WINTER (RES)    $24.99
JUL170457    DEATHSTROKE TP VOL 03 TWILIGHT (REBIRTH)    $16.99
JUL170472    DEMON BY JACK KIRBY TP    $29.99
AUG170211    DETECTIVE COMICS #966    $2.99
AUG170212    DETECTIVE COMICS #966 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170178    FLASH #32    $2.99
AUG170179    FLASH #32 VAR ED    $2.99
JUL170473    FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 03    $34.99
AUG170275    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #1    $2.99
AUG170276    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #1 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170219    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30    $2.99
AUG170220    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30 VAR ED    $2.99
JUL170479    INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FIVE TP VOL 03    $16.99
MAY170345    JUSTICE LEAGUE AN ADULT COLORING BOOK TP    $15.99
MAY170344    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARKSEID WAR SAGA OMNIBUS HC    $75.00
APR170428    JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $99.99
APR170462    JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE AQUAMAN STATUE    $150.00
AUG170233    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16    $2.99
AUG170234    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170293    MISTER MIRACLE #3 (OF 12) (MR)    $3.99
AUG170294    MISTER MIRACLE #3 (OF 12) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
AUG170237    NEW SUPER MAN #16    $3.99
AUG170238    NEW SUPER MAN #16 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170285    RAGMAN #1 (OF 6)    $2.99
AUG170243    RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15    $3.99
AUG170244    RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170305    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #18    $3.99
AUG170306    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #18 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170314    SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #86    $2.99
AUG170245    SUICIDE SQUAD #27    $2.99
AUG170246    SUICIDE SQUAD #27 VAR ED    $2.99
JUL170465    SUPER SONS TP VOL 01 WHEN I GROW UP (REBIRTH)    $12.99
AUG170249    SUPERGIRL #14    $3.99
AUG170250    SUPERGIRL #14 VAR ED    $3.99
JUN170359    SUPERMAN & MISERABLE ROTTEN NO FUN REALLY BAD DAY HC    $14.99
AUG170257    SUPERWOMAN #15    $3.99
AUG170258    SUPERWOMAN #15 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170281    WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY #1    $3.99
AUG170282    WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY #1 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170265    WONDER WOMAN #32    $2.99
AUG170266    WONDER WOMAN #32 VAR ED    $2.99

2015 Glyph Award Winners Announced; Dynamite's "Shaft" is Story of the Year

The Glyph Awards recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about Black people.  The 2015 Glyph Awards recognize comics made in 2014.  The winners were announced on Friday, May 15, 2015 at ECBACC in PhIladelphia. This is the 10th year for the Glyph Awards.

Some of the comics nominated can be read at http://peepgamecomix.com/

2015 Glyph Award winners:

STORY OF THE YEAR
• SHAFT; David F. Walker, Writer; Bilquis Evely, Artist

BEST COVER
• OFFSET #1 – THE MAN WHO TRAVELS WITH A PIECE OF SUGARCANE; Tristan Roach

BEST WRITER
• Keef Cross; DAY BLACK

BEST ARTIST
• Nelson Blake 2; ARTIFACTS

BEST MALE CHARACTER
• Bass Reeves; BASS REEVES: TALES OF THE TALENTED TENTH ; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
• Ajala Storm; AJALA A SERIES OF ADVENTURES; Robert Garrett, Writer; N Steven Harris and Walt Msonza Barna, Artists

RISING STAR AWARD
• Alverne Ball and Jason Reeves, Writers; Lee Moyer and Ari Syahrazad, Artists; ONE NATION: OLD DRUIDS

BEST COMIC STRIP OR WEBCOMIC
• KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist

BEST REPRINT PUBLICATION
• TECHWATCH; Chameleon Creations

FAN AWARD FOR BEST WORK
• ONENATION: SAFEHOUSE; Jason Reeves, Writer; Samax Amen and Deon De Lange, Artists

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

I Reads You Review: WATSON & HOLMES #6

WATSON AND HOLMES No. 6
NEW PARADIGM STUDIOS – @npstudios

WRITER: Brandon Easton
ARTIST: N. Steve Harris
COLORS: Jay David Ramos
LETTERS: Wilson Ramos, Jr.
COVER: N. Steven Harris with Jay David Ramos
VARIANT COVER: Rick Leonardi with Jay David Ramos
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Watson & Holmes created by Brandon Perlow and Paul J. Mendoza, inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”

I first came across Watson & Holmes when the 2014 Glyph Comics Award nominations were announced.  After Watson & Holmes #6 won four of those awards, I decided try the series, especially #6.  By chance, I was visiting a regional comic book store, when I spied a box of comics with a sign on the front that said “.25¢ each.”  I looked through the box and was surprised to find a number of interesting comic books.  That included Watson & Holmes #6, which is produced by writer Brandon Easton, artist N. Steve Harris, colorist Jay David Ramos, and letterer Wilson Ramos, Jr.

New Paradigm Studios' comic book series, Watson & Holmes, is a modern take on  the tales of “Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  The series envisions Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as Black men in an urban setting, specifically New York City’s famous Harlem district.  By placing them in a modern, American urban landscape, Doyle's legendary detective fiction characters can travel in story directions likely never imagined by Doyle.

In Watson & Holmes, Holmes is no longer the sole central character and shares the spotlight equally with Watson.  Dr. John Watson is now the African-America Dr. Jon Watson, a former para-jumper for the U.S. Air Force and an Afghanistan war veteran.  He currently works in an inner-city clinic helping the less fortunate, while dealing with the financial hardships brought on by a difficult divorce.  The African-American Sherlock Holmes is currently a private investigator and a consultant to the New York Police Department (NYPD).  Obsessive compulsive, Holmes had worked as a programmer for an Internet start-up that failed, which ruined his career.  That led to him becoming a PI.

Watson & Holmes #6 opens at night near the George Washington Bridge in New York City.  The next morning, the bridge is a crime scene when the body of Hazel Wainwright is found.  The NYPD brings Holmes into the investigation because this murder requires a great deal of discretion.  Hazel was the wife of prominent New York City councilman, Dexter “Dex” Wainwright.

Holmes strongly suspects that Dex murdered his wife, but Watson hopes against that, as Wainwright has led the revival of Harlem.  Holmes' research has uncovered the name of Dominique Jiminez, a woman who is somehow connected to both Wainwrights.   Watson and Holmes aren't the only ones looking for Jiminez, a woman who is also connected to a dark underworld.

I don't often come across self-contained, single-issue detective comic books; I rarely come across them as good as Watson & Holmes #6.  Not only is the story good, but it is also riddled with consequence.  Brandon Easton offers a story that is both real in a heartbreaking way and also really relevant.  Easton makes the Wainwrights and Jiminez matter because I cared about their dilemmas and conflicts, and especially their situations in life.

Artist N. Steven Harris has huge upside.  Although his compositions and technique are still developing, his storytelling has a strong sense of drama and makes Watson and Holmes' union and method of working together seem genuine.  Harris' drawings are stylish, defined by a sense of dynamism that permeates each panel.  The colors by Jay David Ramos strike the right tone, suggesting this story's quick pace, without loosing its crime fiction edginess.

I would like to see Brandon Easton and N. Steve Harris work together again, on Watson & Holmes especially.  But I'll take something else... like maybe an creator-owned title.

A

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


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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