Saturday, January 14, 2017

Review: TWILIGHT ZONE THE SHADOW #1

TWILIGHT ZONE THE SHADOW, VOL. 1 No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David Avallone
ART: Dave Acosta
COLORS: Omi Remalante
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
VARIANT COVER: Francesco Francavilla
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Chapter One: “Shadow of a Doubt”

“The Twilight Zone” was an American television series that was broadcast on the CBS television network for five seasons from 1959 to 1964.  Created by writer-producer Rod Serling, “The Twilight Zone” employed an anthology format, with each episode being unrelated to any other episode of the series.  The series told stories in multiple genres, from drama, psychological thriller, and suspense to horror, fantasy, and science fiction.  Episodes often had a moral and/or an ending that presented a macabre resolution or an unexpected twist.

The Shadow is a fictional character that began life as a mysterious radio narrator.  He debuted on July 31, 1930 and was the host of the radio program, “Detective Story Hour,” which was designed to promote Detective Story Magazine from Street and Smith Publications.  Listeners of that program began asking newsstand agents for copies of “The Shadow's detective magazine,” assuming one existed, which it did not.

Street and Smith hired writer Walter B. Gibson to create a character concept that fit The Shadow's name and voice and to also write a story featuring him.  The first issue of The Shadow Magazine went on sale on April 1, 1931.  The Shadow would go on to be one of the most famous fictional characters of the twentieth century, starring in a long-running pulp magazine series, comic books, and newspaper comic strips, as well as in films, movie serials, and television series.

For the past decade, Dynamite Entertainment has had the license to produced comic books featuring The Shadow.  There have not been many comic books based on “The Twilight Zone,” but Dynamite apparently now has the license for that.  The result is a new comic book, crossover miniseries, The Twilight Zone: The Shadow (or Twilight Zone The Shadow).  It is written by David Avallone; drawn by Dave Acosta; colored by Omi Remalante; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

The Twilight Zone: The Shadow #1 (“Shadow of a Doubt”) opens in October 1938 in Yaphank, New York.  It is 'round midnight at “Camp Siegfried,” and The Shadow is there to bust a cap in some American Nazi ass.  In the aftermath, however, Lamont Cranston finds himself in a situation in which what he believes to be is not.  Everything seems familiar, but this is the Twilight Zone.

Honestly, The Twilight Zone: The Shadow has potential.  It isn't good, or bad, or even mediocre.  It is like a still developing dream, more so than it is a story, but that's the Twilight Zone for you when it comes to dream-like.  Artist Dave Acosta is good at storytelling here, although his compositions are not refined.  From a skills point of view, Acosta is in that (ahem) twilight zone between self-published, POD comics, wannabe professional artist and a small press anthology cartoonist.  But I guess Dynamite finds his page-rate convenient.

Writer David Avallone has a good kernel of a story, but the 20 pages this first issue offers are not enough to really get a feel for what he is doing.  Like I said earlier, there is potential here.  The Twilight Zone: The Shadow could end up being something nice.

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Friday, January 13, 2017

Review: Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1

STAR WARS SPECIAL: C-3P0 No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

WRITER: James Robinson
ART: Tony Harris
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Tony Harris
VARIANT COVERS:  Tony Harris; Reilly Brown; John Tyler Christopher; Dave Dorman; Todd Nauck
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2016)

Rated “T+”

“The Phantom Limb”

In the recent Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we discovered that C-3PO, the goldenrod protocol droid, now had a red left arm.  We were told that there was a story behind the red arm, and recently, Marvel Comics told it to us in the one-shot comic book, Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1.

C-3PO #1 (“The Phantom Limb”) is written by James Robinson; drawn and colored by Tony Harris, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  The story is set before the events depicted in The Force Awakens.  C-3PO and five other droids are stranded on a planet, and one of the droids, Omri, is a prisoner.  He knows the location of Admiral Ackbar, who is being held prisoner by the First Order.  The droids must travel across a vast and perilous 87-kilometer landscape to a homing beacon that can help get them off this dangerous world.  The problem is that even droids can have interests contrary to programming.

Either Marvel or Dark Horse Comics have been publishing Star Wars comic books for four decades (with about a five or six year gap when neither did).  I have probably read Star Wars comic books for about half that time, and in that span, Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 is at the bottom of the heap.

I am reluctant to use the word “worst” in conjunction with Star Wars.  After all, Star Wars is practically a religion or at least a faith for me.  The Star Wars films and, to a lesser extent, the spin-off stories have hugely affected me personally and professionally.  If that were not the case, I would call Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 the worst Star Wars comic book that I have ever read.

That shocks me.  I have enjoyed comics previously written by James Robinson, and I have seen some nice, even beautiful artwork produced by Tony Harris, including the cover for this very comic book.  [I have not read DC Comics' 1990s iteration of Starman that was produced by the team of Robinson and Harris.]  Here, however, Robinson offers a mundane yarn that is not worth telling (or selling).  Harris' art is a combination of muddy composition and water-logged coloring.  The graphical storytelling is murky; actually, it is the dialogue (stiff as it is) that really lets the reader understand the action.

The resolution offers a heartfelt moment, and an appearance by lovable Episode 7 droid, BB-8, washes away a little of the bitter aftertaste of “The Phantom Limb.”  I have to say that rather than buy this comic book, one should simply search the Internet for the story behind C-3PO's red arm.  Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 is definitely not worth the $4.99 cover price.

D

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Thursday, January 12, 2017

Review: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze's BLACK PANTHER #1

BLACK PANTHER #1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Ta-Nehisi Coates
ART: Brian Stelfreeze
COLORS: Laura Martin
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Brian Stelfreeze
VARIANT COVER: Brian Stelfreeze; Olivier Coipel; Felipe Smith; Alex Ross; Skottie Young; Sanford Greene; Ryan Sook; Disney Interactive
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2016)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Rated “T”

“A Nation Under Our Feet” Part 1

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an American writer and journalist.  This African-American commentator is also a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, political, and social issues, particularly as they regard to Black people in America.  Coates' second book, Between the World and Me (released in July 2015), won the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction.  In 2015, he was the recipient of a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Brian Stelfreeze is an African-American comic book creator who has been writing, penciling, inking, coloring, and/or painting comic books for over three decades..  In the 1980s, he first gained notice for his stylized covers, particularly for his unique graphic interpretation of Batman.  Stelfreeze was the initial series artist on the DC Comics' Batman title, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, and also produced over 50 covers for that series.  Stelfreeze is one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is the writer and Brian Stelfreeze is the artist of the new Black Panther comic book series from Marvel Comics.  The other creative talent on the series include Laura Martin as color artist and Joe Sabino as letterer.

In the world of Black Panther, T'Challa is the warrior-priest-king of Wakanda, and he bears the ceremonial title of that position, Black Panther.  To the world outside Wakanda, Black Panther is a superhero, specifically an Avenger, and of late, a member of the Ultimates.  However, Wakanda has fallen on hard times during Black Panther's time away being a superhero.

Black Panther #1 (“A Nation Under Our Feet” Part 1) opens at “The Great Mound.”  Here, Black Panther is in the heat of a pitched battle with vibranium miners.  In “The Golden City,” capital of Wakanda, harsh justice is handed out.  At the Nigandan border region, an army gathers.  Sure, Wakanda has undergone a flood that killed thousands, a supervillain-led coup, and an invasion from beyond the stars, but there is more bad to come.

I have been an admirer of Ta-Nehisi Coates for the past few years, ever since I first saw him during an television appearance (on MSNBC, I think).  Since then, I have seen him speak on independent news series, “Democracy Now,” and I have read some of his work at The Atlantic's website.  Upon hearing that he was going to write a 12-issue run of Black Panther for Marvel Comics, I was excited, but I did not know what I could really expect; after all, Coates had no previous comic book writing experience.

That turns out to be a good thing.  His clean storytelling builds on the work of previous Black Panther writers, Christopher Priest and Reginald Hudlin.  He mines what for me has always been an obvious source of conflict-laden storytelling – how does a man be both a superhero and the king of a country with resources highly coveted by dangerous interests.  And, you know, I have to give Coates credit for writing a script that insists on giving readers the names of every important character with a speaking role in the first issue.  I am tired of reading vague, introductory first chapters and first issues in which the only characters that are recognizable are the ones wearing familiar costumes.

I have not followed Brian Stelfreeze very much, but I have admired some of his work.  One could make an argument that he is the star here.  His stylish art and vivid, energetic graphical storytelling are a delight.  His character, costume, and graphic design for this series is surprising, simply because I did not expect such a fresh approach that also retains classical Black Panther tropes.  Laura Martin's colors over Stelfreeze's stellar art create some of the most striking visuals that can be found in comic books at this moment.  Letter Joe Sabino and designer Manny Mederos also deserve a shout-out for making this Black Panther one of the best Marvel first issues that I have read in the last few years.

I cannot wait for the second issue of this new Black Panther.  It is more than I expected, although now I expect a lot.

A+

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, January 9, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 11, 2017

DC COMICS

NOV160191    ACTION COMICS #971    $2.99
NOV160192    ACTION COMICS #971 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160195    ALL STAR BATMAN #6    $4.99
NOV160197    ALL STAR BATMAN #6 FRANCAVILLA VAR ED    $4.99
NOV160196    ALL STAR BATMAN #6 JOCK VAR ED    $4.99
OCT160290    AQUAMAN TP VOL 01 THE DROWNING (REBIRTH)    $16.99
NOV160206    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #6    $2.99
NOV160207    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #6 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160291    BATMAN TP VOL 01 I AM GOTHAM (REBIRTH)    $16.99
OCT160265    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) COLLECTORS ED (RES)    $12.99
NOV160216    DEATHSTROKE #10    $2.99
NOV160217    DEATHSTROKE #10 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160220    DETECTIVE COMICS #948    $2.99
NOV160221    DETECTIVE COMICS #948 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160301    EARTH 2 SOCIETY #20    $2.99
NOV160224    FLASH #14    $2.99
NOV160225    FLASH #14 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG160326    FLASH THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 02    $99.99
NOV160296    GOTHAM ACADEMY SECOND SEMESTER #5    $2.99
OCT160302    GREEN ARROW TP VOL 07 HOMECOMING    $19.99
NOV160236    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #12    $2.99
NOV160237    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #12 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160323    HELLBLAZER TP VOL 15 HIGHWATER (MR)    $24.99
OCT160308    INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO COMPLETE COLL TP    $24.99
NOV160185    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VIXEN REBIRTH #1    $2.99
NOV160186    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VIXEN REBIRTH #1 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160283    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
NOV160284    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) BATMAN PINK RANGER VA    $3.99
NOV160290    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) BLANK VAR ED    $3.99
NOV160285    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) CYBORG BLUE RANGER VA    $3.99
NOV160286    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) FLASH BLACK RANGER VA    $3.99
NOV160287    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) GREEN LANTERN YELLOW    $3.99
NOV160288    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) SUPERMAN GREEN RANGER    $3.99
NOV160289    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS #1 (OF 6) WONDER WOMAN RED RANG    $3.99
NOV160166    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
NOV160167    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #4 (OF 6) CONNER VAR ED    $3.99
NOV160168    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #4 (OF 6) FINCH VAR ED    $3.99
NOV160361    LOST BOYS #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
NOV160246    NEW SUPER MAN #7    $2.99
NOV160247    NEW SUPER MAN #7 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160252    RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #6    $2.99
NOV160253    RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #6 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160311    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #9    $3.99
NOV160312    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #9 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV160175    SUICIDE SQUAD #9 (JL SS)    $2.99
NOV160176    SUICIDE SQUAD #9 VAR ED (JL SS)    $2.99
NOV160254    SUPERGIRL #5    $2.99
NOV160255    SUPERGIRL #5 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160260    SUPERWOMAN #6    $2.99
NOV160261    SUPERWOMAN #6 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV160264    TITANS #7    $2.99
NOV160265    TITANS #7 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160327    UNFOLLOW TP VOL 02 GOD IS WATCHING (MR)    $14.99
NOV160268    WONDER WOMAN #14    $2.99
NOV160269    WONDER WOMAN #14 VAR ED    $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 11, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

NOV160917    ALL NEW WOLVERINE #16    $3.99
NOV160863    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #3    $3.99
OCT161009    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN WORLDWIDE TP VOL 04    $15.99
OCT161008    BLACK PANTHER TP BOOK 02 NATION UNDER OUR FEET    $15.99
OCT161005    CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON TP VOL 03 CIVIL WAR II    $15.99
NOV160857    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #9    $3.99
NOV160993    CAPTAIN MARVEL VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
NOV160782    DAREDEVIL #15 NOW    $3.99
NOV160930    DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE SAILOR #4 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
NOV160922    DEADPOOL #24    $3.99
NOV160991    DEADPOOL THE DUCK BY NAKAYAMA POSTER    $8.99
NOV160887    DOCTOR STRANGE PUNISHER MAGIC BULLETS #2 (OF 4)    $4.99
NOV160888    DOCTOR STRANGE PUNISHER MAGIC BULLETS #2 (OF 4) VAR    $4.99
NOV160889    DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERERS SUPREME #4    $3.99
NOV160890    FOOLKILLER #3    $3.99
NOV160849    GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #4    $3.99
NOV160905    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #16    $3.99
NOV160907    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #16 BEST BENDIS MOMENTS VAR    $3.99
NOV160990    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #16 BY ART ADAMS POSTER    $8.99
OCT161025    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 01 ROAD TO ANNIHILATION    $34.99
NOV160992    HULK BY TORQUE POSTER    $8.99
NOV160802    IVX #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
NOV160806    IVX #2 (OF 6) DODSON X-MEN VAR    $3.99
NOV160803    IVX #2 (OF 6) MICHAEL CHO VAR    $3.99
NOV160805    IVX #2 (OF 6) SYAF INHUMANS VAR    $3.99
NOV160882    JESSICA JONES #4    $3.99
NOV160883    JESSICA JONES #4 DEKAL VAR    $3.99
NOV160935    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #16    $2.99
OCT161027    MARVELMAN CLASSIC TP VOL 01    $19.99
NOV160929    MAX RIDE FINAL FLIGHT #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV160764    MIGHTY THOR #15 NOW    $3.99
JUL161065    MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 10    $75.00
JUL161066    MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 10 DM VAR ED 240    $75.00
OCT161037    MONSTERS UNLEASHED BY MCNIVEN VINYL POSTER    $34.99
NOV160869    MS MARVEL #14    $3.99
NOV160850    OCCUPY AVENGERS #3    $3.99
NOV160884    POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #12    $3.99
NOV160909    ROCKET RACCOON #2    $3.99
NOV160826    SILK #16 CC    $3.99
NOV160769    SPIDER-MAN #12 NOW    $3.99
NOV160865    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #13    $3.99
NOV160941    STAR WARS POE DAMERON #10    $3.99
NOV160860    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #14    $3.99
NOV160777    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #16 NOW    $3.99
NOV160855    UNCANNY AVENGERS #19    $3.99
NOV160812    UNCANNY X-MEN #17 IVX    $3.99
OCT161032    WOLVERINE TP WEAPON X UNBOUND    $34.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for January11, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV160510    DONALD QUEST #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV160511    DONALD QUEST #3 (OF 5) SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
OCT160435    DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FROST GIANTS FURY #1    $3.99
OCT160436    DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FROST GIANTS FURY #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
JUN160574    LITTLE CIRCUSES BOARD GAME (RES)    $49.99
SEP160613    MACHI KORO BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY CARD GAME    $29.99
OCT160551    THE GAME ON FIRE    $19.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 11, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR160144    CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS III TP    $19.99
OCT160029    CALL OF DUTY ZOMBIES #2    $3.99
SEP160083    CONAN TP VOL 20 WITCH SHALL BE BORN    $19.99
AUG160032    GROO FRAY OF THE GODS #4    $3.99
SEP160101    HOUSE OF PENANCE TP    $19.99
NOV160042    LOBSTER JOHNSON GARDEN OF BONES ONE SHOT    $3.99
SEP160116    NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 17    $9.99
SEP160041    PROMETHEUS LIFE AND DEATH TP VOL 01    $14.99
SEP160098    SHADOW GLASS TP (MR)    $19.99
NOV160043    SHADOWS ON THE GRAVE #2    $3.99
NOV160048    STRAIN MR QUINLAN VAMPIRE HUNTER #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99