ACTION COMICS #959
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM
Covers by CLAY MANN
Variant covers by RYAN SOOK
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
These issues will ship with two covers.
“PATH TO DOOM” Chapter Three: Clark Kent gets caught in the crossfire as Doomsday crashes through the streets of Metropolis! As Lois struggles to keep young Jonathan out of the path of destruction, can former enemies Superman and Lex Luthor stop the monster that once destroyed the city and killed the Man of Steel—or does Luthor have other plans?
You know, Superman can be boring. But this one isn't, so far.
For one thing, he's not the Superman who belongs here. So there's an element of alienation that doesn't usually exist in Super-stories. You understand why he, pre-New 52 Lois and Jon cling to each other with such ferocity. They are, all three, the last survivors of a doomed planet.
You also have:
* The mystery of Clark Kent (now a separate character?)
* The mystery of Luthor's motives (can he really be a good guy?)
* The mystery of Doomsday (where did this one come from?)
Speaking of which, I didn't care at all for the first Doomsday story. Punch, punch, punch -- it really was boring. Even the ending wasn't a surprise, since the name of the story was "The Death of Superman." And what was it? Two characters punched to death. Punch, punch, punch.
This one is more interesting, because Superman knows punch, punch, punch doesn't work. But he still doesn't know what will. I don't expect this Superman to die at the end, but I really don't know how he'll get out of this one. And isn't that what we always say we want?
Still, there's an awful lot of punching. I'll be back next issue to see what else this team has for me.
THE ADVENTURES OF DIETER LUMPEN
Writer: JORGE ZENTNER
Art/Cover: RUBEN PELLEJERO
TPB • FC • $49.99 • 264 pages • 8.5” x 11”
The first English translation of the entire "Adventures of Dieter Lumpen" series, the most famous work of the Angoulême award-winning team of Jorge Zentner and Rubén Pellejero!
Dieter Lumpen is a man of the world, an adventurer who wants no part of adventure. Nonetheless, he is swept along to exotic locations from Turkey to the Caribbean, from China to Venice. He is not quite so hard-boiled as the typical adventure hero. As written by Zentner, Dieter’s irony is gentler, more subtle, more reflective, and more tongue-in-cheek than hard or bitter. Pellejero is quite simply one of Europe’s top comics artists, who was chosen for the plum job to illustrate the new adventures of Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese. Dieter Lumpen began in 1981 and continued until 1994.
This definitive omnibus collects all eight short stories and the three graphic novels with a foreword by Tim Sale.
The complete series—including all three graphic novels—in one book.
If you like crime noir, "Corto Maltese" and similar, you have found a gem. If not, move along, Johnny, nothing to see here.
Dieter Lumpen is exactly what you expect it to be. It's a story of a soldier of fortune during unsettled times, traveling the world gaining and (mostly) losing fortunes. It's heavily influenced by the work of Milt Caniff, Hugo Pratt and Alex Toth, both in story and art. It's rough and calloused, with a romantic soul.
And it's very well done. I think it's even better than "Corto Maltese," but that's probably just me.
BLOODSHOT REBORN #15
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by MICO SUAYAN
Cover A by TOMAS GIORELLO
Cover B by BEN OLIVER
Cover C by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Interlocking Variant by RYAN BODENHEIM
Variant Cover by DARICK ROBERTSON
Variant Cover by JEFF LEMIRE
$3.99 • 32 pgs. • T+
“BLOODSHOT ISLAND” – PART 2
Escape from BLOODSHOT ISLAND!
Live. Die. Rejuvenate. Each day, Bloodshot and his fellow castaways from Project Rising Spirit awake to find themselves hunted by the unstoppable engine of destruction called Deathmate. And each day, they die…only to begin their escape once more after the nano-technology inside them repairs their fatal injuries. As Bloodshot and his new teammates begin to understand the brutal logic behind their island prison, will the biggest threat to their survival be the horrors that await in the jungle around them…or each other?
New York Times best-selling writer Jeff Lemire (Old Man Logan) and superstar artist Mico Suayan (BLOODSHOT REBORN) lead the hunt for the secrets behind Bloodshot’s past and future here in the next unstoppable chapter of the summer’s electrifying Valiant blockbuster!
I read the first issue of this, and was instantly hooked. I'm not sure if that's because of the story or the awesome art, or a combination.
Here's the dillio: Bloodshot, after being killed two issues ago, woke up on island last issue where there are several other iterations of himself. They are all being hunted and killed daily by a flying, woman-ish thing with incredible power called Deathmate, then resurrected the following day for it to happen all over again. In other words, one of the worst hells imaginable.
The other Bloodshots seem to be from past wars, which is, of course, impossible. (This has been partly addressed. But I digress.) There's "Quiet Man," who is a veteran of the 1992 Gulf War. There's "Cold Man," who is Russian, and from the Cold War. There's "Tank Man," who was a tank commander in World War II. There's "Viet Man" (heh, that's actually clever), who is a black veteran of Vietnam with '70s hair, and the funniest dialogue. And there's Bloodhound (again, clever), who looks like Pooch from Gunner & Sarge, with no indication of where he's from (and he can't talk, so we'll never know). Our guy is dubbed "Every Man," by the mysterious people running this show, but the other Bloodshots tend to call him "New Guy," as they have all been there for five years. (Five. Years. Of being killed horribly every day.)
This is powerful stuff. Especially since New Guy is the first to realize that this all an elaborate training exercise for Deathmate. He has been added to change the equation, to up her level of training. And he probably will ... because he recognizes her from his own past.
Hook!
Let me say also that artist Mico Suayan is a revelation. He's not only a strong artist in the conventional sense, but his rendering is off the charts. Military boots, clothing, trees, faces -- everything is given recognizable texture by long, hard hours at the drawing board. As I said last week, how he does this on 20 pages monthly is beyond me. But it's flippin' gorgeous. I could just look at his web belts all day.
Needless to say, I recommend this storyline, whether you've read Bloodshot before or not. And, in fact, you don't need to have read Bloodshot before, at least not so far, beyond just knowing the basics. (He's a guy who has nanites in his blood that repair him from any injury and accentuate his speed, strength, eyesight, etc.) That's it. You're ready to go.
CONAN THE SLAYER #1
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: CULLEN BUNN
Artist: SERGIO DAVILA
Colorist: MICHAEL ATIYEH, DAVE STEWART
Cover: LEE BERMEJO
Variant: MARK SCHULTZ
FC, 32 pages $3.99
Cullen Bunn writes Conan!
Alone, battle weary, and with nothing but his sword, Conan of Cimmeria faces his inevitable death in the arid wastes ... but instead stumbles into a camp of Kozaki raiders. With a knife at his throat and a band of Turanian hunters at his back, will the half-dead barbarian find a new ally in the Kozaki chief?
* Covers by Lee Bermejo and Mark Schultz!
* A new number one—a perfect jumping-on point for new readers!
New storyline -- new number one.
Sure, it's a gimmick to sell comics, but I appreciate it as a reader, because it gives structure to Conan's sprawling life, and gives me different creative teams interpreting the Cimmerian. If I don't care for a given team, I can just wait for the next number one.
No need for that, here. Cullen Bunn is rapidly becoming my favorite writer, so I expect I'll be entertained here. I'm not familiar with Sergio Davila, but I like his style. It's a bit rough and sketchy, which is how I imagine the Hyborian Age anyway. His Conan is a cross between John Buscema's and Brian Ching's; leaner than Buscema's but more muscular than Ching's.
As for the action this issue, I'm not sure if it's specifically from any of the books. It feels familiar -- but then, what wouldn't, after 46 years of Conan comic books? Maybe Bunn is fleshing out one of the intros to one of the books, turning one paragraph into a saga. Or maybe I did read this story back in the '70s, and just don't remember it fully.
At any rate, Conan is at his lowest ebb here. I won't spoil the particulars, but things haven't gone well for him and his physical vitality and confidence both have taken hard blows. He's still in the desert, or something like it, probably near the Vilayet Sea, as he's dealing with Turanians and Kozaki. I imagine this series will be the story of Conan climbing from the depths back to the confident character with which we're familiar. I don't think I've seen that in a Conan story before, but even if I have, this issue was such a painless and interesting set-up that I'm on board.
THE DARK AND BLOODY #6
Written by SHAWN ALDRIDGE
Art by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
Cover by TYLER CROOK
32 pg, FC, 6 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
All that fear and dread you’ve been feeling while reading this series? It’s all been building to this, the final showdown between one man and the girl who has come seeking revenge. Iris must not only confront Ayah and the brutal past they both share, but who he is deep down. Is it possible he could save his family from retribution and yet not save his own humanity?
“For a story with so much death, THE DARK & BLOODY is absolutely teeming with life.” —All-Comic.com
Since I didn't read the first five issues, I'm not going to review the final issue, despite DC's generous DRC. But I will pass on the preview, which might be useful if you also haven't read this series, but are considering the trade paperback.
DETECTIVE COMICS #936
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
Variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
On sale JULY 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Each issue will ship with two covers.
“RISE OF THE BATMEN” Chapter Three: In issue #936, Batman is M.I.A., and it’s time for Batwoman to take the reins! But can she control a strike force that’s barely worked together … including unstable wildcard Clayface?
I wondered if they'd sideline Batman somehow in this book, so that Batwoman could be the star-slash-leader. That has happened, although not permanently. I won't spoil how.
And, as expected, the focus is largely on the kids (and Clayface). Again, I won't spoil how.
Despite being expected, though, I am not at all disappointed. We get enough of the Big Bat in other books; this is a place for his extended family, in whom I'm interested. And the bad guy is both mysterious and a plausible threat. So I'm enjoying this book.
Oh, and one thing was not expected, at least not by me. I'm not even going to even say what it is, for fear of spoilage. But I found it shocking, and it certainly turns the table over for one character, for whom -- wait for it -- nothing will ever again be the same.
THE EIGHTH SEAL (TPB)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer: JAMES TYNION IV
Art/Cover: JEREMY ROCK
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 124 pages
First Lady Amelia Greene has been suffering from horrific visions—visions of herself transforming into something unnatural and bloodthirsty. As the hallucinations worsen, she seeks professional help, but this all must be kept secret for fear of a political scandal. While her husband and members of the White House staff grow increasingly concerned, Amelia learns those closest to her know more about these visions than they let on.
“The Eighth Seal is an impressive mixture of psychological/body horror and political thriller.” –ComicWow!
In my Comics Guide remarks, I said this looks like a combination of Rosemary's Baby and a political thriller. Funny, the foreword by Mark Waid said Tynion's pitch was "The West Wing meets Rosemary's Baby." So I wasn't far off.
Legionnaire Rob Staeger has already complimented this book, and I'll chime in with the same. It is a compelling mystery, with moments of unsettling horror. You're supposed to wonder, I guess, if all the horror is just happening in the First Lady's mind, but it wouldn't be much of a story if she was just going crazy, would it? I won't spoil anything, but there's a Lovecraftian tone throughout.
The art isn't always up to snuff -- some panels look a little amateurish here and there -- but overall it has a simple, clean look that works well in pixels. Waid describes it as "Steve Dillon-y," but it looks more like Jonathan Luna (Girls, Ultra) to me. Since I like that style, I'm good. I don't know if it will hold up in print, but probably. Waid says so, anyway.
I'm a little iffy on the ending; it was shocking and cool, but I was left wondering "what happens next?" Maybe that's good in a mystery story, but for me there were too many strings left untied.
THE FLASH #2
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by CARMINE Di GIANDOMENICO
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
Variant cover by DAVE JOHNSON
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Each issue will ship with two covers.
“LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE” Chapter Two: In issue #2, The Flash trains novice speedster August Heart to help protect the people of Central City from the Black Hole, a new breed of rogue with a deadly agenda for the Fastest Men Alive.
The storyline from last issue, with the new speedster, leaps ahead in a way we're not accustomed to in these days of decompressed storylines. In fact, we're now at the point in a story like this where the new guy gets killed, so I'm a bit worried about his health.
My interest took a step down when Wally left the series -- I'm curious how he's going to approach finding out about the missing years -- but this story is pretty good, with a lot of classic Flash elements to make older fans happy.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS: REBIRTH #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art and cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
Variant cover by CARY NORD
32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
Superstar artist Ethan Van Sciver returns to the world of Green Lantern! In the absence of the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro and his fear-inducing Yellow Lantern Corps patrol the universe as its sole protectors—but deep in space, a green light still burns. Harnessing the remainder of his will, Hal Jordan must become a one-man GL Corps to defeat his greatest foe and restore freedom to the cosmos.
Oh, thank God that "Fugitive" business is over.
This issue reverts Hal Jordan to his usual role, albeit with (yet another) minor costume modification. There's a throwaway line as to why he was running around with Krona's Gauntlet and was a wanted fugitive, which is enough for me to relegate the whole cliched mess into the memory hole. Maybe it was fleshed out in Green Lantern proper, or maybe not. I'm just glad it's over.
For the record, the rest of the Corps is still missing, so I imagine that will be Item #1 on the agenda when Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1 arrives. Other than that, there's not much more you need to know.
HARROW COUNTY #14
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: CULLEN BUNN
Art/Cover: TYLER CROOK
FC, 32 pages, $3.99, Ongoing
"I cannot recommend this book enough." -- Major Spoilers
Emmy encounters more strangers in Harrow County, mysterious and powerful with supernatural abilities. As she learns more about the strange brood that claims to be her family, she is lured further into their world. But staying with them will have a dire cost for Emmy—and all of Harrow County.
• The latest Harrow County arc reveals secrets about Emmy’s past!
• Featuring special backup stories exclusive to the single issues!
In development for television on SyFy!
I've raved about this book so much, you folks are probably tired of hearing about it. So I'll just reiterate: This is good, tingly rural horror.
Emmy, our reincarnated witch living down her predecessor's antics, meets some of her extended family. Yes, they're creepy and they're kooky, and mysterious and spooky, and altogether ooky. But they're far creepier than The Addams Family, and you really don't want to have Thanksgiving with them.
Honest, you really don't.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
MICKEY MOUSE SHORTS: SEASON ONE #1 (OF 4)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer/Art: BASED ON THE ANIMATED SERIES BY PAUL RUDISH
Adaptation: SCOTT TIPTON
Cover: ANDY SURIANO
Subscription Variant: SCOTT TIPTON
FC • 40 pages • $3.99
Join Mickey, Minnie and all their pals in a comic adaptation of the celebrated, multi-Emmy and Annie Award-winning shorts from Disney Television Animation! In this issue, Mickey battles his way through a Tokyo bullet train during rush hour, an unlikely character competes in a dog show, and Donald suffers from ... Flipperboobootosis?! And that’s just the start!
• Newly adapted for print by Scott Tipton!
• These Disney shorts have one multiple Emmys, Annies and more!
• Variant cover by TARA BILLINGER!
This is some of the best Micky Mouse I've seen, but that's probably because it isn't at all like traditional Micky Mouse, which I often find boring.
All the usual characters are there, so it's not like they're re-inventing it all. But usually Mickey is the earnest straight man, which is kinda dull -- there's a reason why the straight man isn't the lead in comedy movies. Here he's still the central character, but more manic and unpredictable, with more of an edge than usual. (He actually loses his temper sometimes!)
And the artwork hearkens back to earlier days of animation -- or more likely to the Jack Kricfalusi style, which is itself a parody of sorts of earlier styles. While that can get out of hand (Itty Bitty Bunnies), I do enjoy it sometimes (Ren & Stimpy). It's certainly more kinetic and surprising than the standard Floyd Gottfredson/Paul Murry style.
MONSTRESS, VOL. 1 (TPB)
Writer: MARJORIE LIU
Art/Cover: SANA TAKEDA
192 PAGES / FC / M / $9.99
Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESStells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both.
Entertainment Weekly praised MONSTRESSas “one of Image Comics’ most imaginative and daring new series” and dubbed it the “Best New Original Series” in their year-end “Best Comics of 2015” list.
Collects MONSTRESS#1-6.
I'm only a third of the way through this -- I just ran out of time -- but I've really enjoyed what I've read so far. This world, unlike many where magic works, has been built very solidly so that I feel like a strong set of "magical physics" rules is in place and I won't be blindsided. And the art is really well done, with both strong figure and a lot of rendering with a specific design sense that makes all the decor, clothing, armor, jewelry and such all fit together. Nice!
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
NEW SUPER-MAN #1
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art and cover by VICTOR BOGDANOVIC
Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
“MADE IN CHINA” Chapter One: An impulsive act of heroism thrusts an arrogant young man into the limelight of Shanghai as China begins to form its own Justice League of powerful heroes. Rising from the ashes of The Final Days of Superman, award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang and on-the-rise art star Victor Bogdanovic introduce readers to Kong Kenan—the New Super-Man! When the world needed a new hero, China made him!
The pitch for this book could have been "What if Flash Thompson had come from Krypton instead of Clark Kent?" Because the new Chinese Super-Man is a bully and a jerk.
The book offers some reasons he might be that way. But reasons aren't excuses, and while this twist might have sounded cool in the pitch meeting, one wonders how they will make this kid likeable or interesting enough for an audience to care what happens to him.
Of course, given the exotic (for Americans) location and possibilities -- wait'll you see who shows up on the last page -- they may not have to lean on the lead character very much. You'll see what I mean when you get there.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
NIGHTWING: REBIRTH #1
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by YANICK PAQUETTE
Cover by JAVIER FERNANDEZ
Variant cover by TBA
32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
He’s been Robin, Batman, a spy, a ghost. Now, Dick Grayson returns to Gotham City to reclaim the life that was taken from him. But when a new evil threatens those he loves most, Nightwing faces being torn away from home once again in order to destroy the dark force once and for all. Powerhouse artist Yanick Paquette (BATMAN, SWAMP THING) joins series writer Tim Seeley (GRAYSON, BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL) to return Nightwing to the DC superhero stage!
Dick Grayson reclaims both names in this book, returning to his superhero role and -- somehow -- everyone on Earth forgetting his secret identity. This "Rebirth" issue also rebirths more than just Nightwing, as a couple more characters take big steps forward, one gearing up for super-doings for the first time since 2011. That's good, because while I like Dick Grayson, I find Nightwing stultifyingly boring. If multiple Spandex characters inhabit this book, that's all to the good. I guess we'll all find out when Nightwing #1 arrives and tips its hand to the direction this series will take.
NINJAK #17
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by DIEGO BERNARD with ANDRES GUINALDO
Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA
Cover B by DIEGO LATORRE
Variant Cover by JEFFREY VEREGGE
$3.99 • 40 pgs. • T+
"THE SIEGE OF KING'S CASTLE" – FINALE
The last stand of Colin King!
Roku has completed her mission. She has destroyed, discredited, and defeated the MI-6 operative known as Ninjak. But she didn’t account for one crucial component … the man behind the mask and gadgets, Colin King! With everything on the line, and nothing left to lose, Valiant’s death-defying super-spy strikes back at his sworn enemy to take back the life he once knew! But even if his body can survive the suicidal confrontation, can his mind withstand the untold torment Roku has prepared?
New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY II) and blockbuster artist Diego Bernard (X-O MANOWAR) tear down the walls behind “THE SIEGE OF KING’S CASTLE” as their soul-shattering trial by fire reaches an unforgettable finale!
No time to review, but I wanted to provide the preview.
PROMETHEUS LIFE AND DEATH #2 (of 4)
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: DAN ABNETT
Art: ANDREA MUTTI
Colors: RAIN BEREDO
Cover: DAVID PALUMBO
FC, 32 pages, $3.99, Miniseries
The Engineer’s ship finally makes planetfall, and the Colonial Marine stowaways find themselves on a world even more deadly than the one they left behind!
The Life and Death story cycle becomes the sequel to Fire and Stone as the characters end up on LV-223—the planet of Prometheus!
I don't have any idea where this is going, which is a good thing. But I fear the comics can only go so far in describing the Prometheans and how this mythology works -- awaiting the next movie -- which would be a bad thing.
But it continues to be interesting, so I continue reading.
RAGNARÖK #9
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer/Art/Cover: WALTER SIMONSON
$4.99 FC • 40 pages
Amidst the smoking ruins of Asgard, the Black Elf assassin, Regn, stands ready to avenge his daughter’s death by killing the God of Thunder, who may or may not hold the key to the resurrection of his dead child.
This long-delayed issue doesn't advance the overall plot much, although there are significant additions to the cast. And Simonson makes good use of actual Norse myths here to achieve that end.
Oh, what am I doing? I don't need to review anything. This is Simonson on Thor, so you know what to expect. And if you like it, like I do, you can't wait for each issue. If not ... well, what's wrong with you? 
SATELLITE FALLING #3
Writer: STEVE HORTON
Art/Cover: STEPHEN THOMPSON
Variant: LOGAN MILLER
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
We look to the past, as Lilly and Eva deal with an ugly truth about a fallen Earth. In the present, Lilly recruits a team to spy on that huge ship on the far side of the gas giant … and find out just what they want!
• By Amala's Blade writer Steve Horton and Star Wars artist Stephen Thompson!
• For fans of space opera, crime fiction and lots of things exploding!
I've read three issues of this, and once again I have mixed feelings.
I like the effort at world-building here. Everything hangs together very well, reflecting the effort and thought that went in before I saw page one. That's good writing, and respect for the reader.
On the downside, the art isn't to my taste. There are lots of squiggles where rendering should be, making all the aliens kinda look alike to my aging eyes -- like a wad of used paper towels with feet or tusks or something sticking out here or there. If it wasn't for exaggerated coloring -- blue skin and orange skin and such -- I would lose track of which alien was which in the fight scenes.
And I'm not all that fond of the central character. Which would be fine if I felt like I was supposed to hold her at arm's length due to her moral ambiguity. But I feel like I'm supposed to like her, but the writer forgot to see to it that I did. As it is, I have only mild interest in whether she survives or not.
In general, I feel like I'm missing the central hook of the story. Anybody else have any opinions?
THE SHADOW: DEATH OF MARGO LANE #2
Publisher: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Writer/Cover: MATT WAGNER
Art: MATT WAGNER, BRENNAN WAGNER (Colorist)
$3.99 / Teen + / 32 pages
While hot on the trail of the deadly and elusive Red Empress, The Shadow attempts to rescue a missing heiress he is convinced was kidnapped by the Tong crime leader. Falling into the Chinese gang's elaborate trap, The Master of Darkness must find a way to escape certain death. All the while, Margo Lane and Moe Shrevnitz stand watch for any sign of trouble. Will Margo be able to assist her friend and companion? Or will the Tong death scenario claim her life as well? From the pen and talents of Eisner Award-winner, Matt Wagner, comes a tale of adventure and romance that will shake The Shadow's world to its very core. With colors by rising talent Brennan Wagner, this five-issue series delivers the sort of pulp action that Shadow fans have loved for decades.
"Wagner creates a world that feels real and then populates it with characters, no people who are real as well." - COMIC BASTARDS
Welp, they went and did it. The title event has occurred.
Which I really, honestly don't want. Without Margo as our POV (and the most sympathetic character in the mythos), The Shadow could be a pretty bleak, brutal book with no redeeming features.
Still, Wagner is such a strong storyteller, this issue was well done despite the terrible thing we knew was coming. Such a strong storyteller, I hope, that he knows very well what I said above, and this death won't stick.
I guess I'll have to keep reading to find out!
WACKY RACELAND #2
Written by KEN PONTAC
Art and cover by LEONARDO MANCO
Variant cover by KYLE BAKER
32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
As the Racers roar through the ruins of San Francisco, Dick Dastardly takes a detour that uncovers a shameful secret from his pre-apocalypse days. Dick has a difficult decision: repeat the mistake that shattered his past, or man up and do the right thing? But does Dick even know what the “right thing” means? Meanwhile, Peter, Penelope and the others face a swarm of flesh-eating nanites that threatens to strip them to the bones.
Did I read the first issue of this? It's telling that I don't remember.
This one has the origin of Dick Dastardly. I'm not sure I needed an origin for Dick Dastardly, whose name kinda tells me all I need to know.
Which mirrors my attitude about the book in general. I was never a Wacky Races viewer, so I have no intrinsic affection for the characters. It's a bunch of strangers driving around doing things I don't care about.
However, if you were a Wacky Races viewer, I suspect you'll have a different experience.
WANDERING ISLAND (TPB)
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer/Art/Cover: KENJI TSURUTA
B&W, 200 pages; TPB, 5 3/4'' x 7 1/4'' $14.99 Age range: 14
Dark Horse Comics is thrilled to announce the publication of the first new work by Kenji Tsuruta in English in 20 years: Wandering Island!
Wandering Island is a retro flying adventure in the spirit of Hayao Miyazaki. With eight pages in color, this special edition features an extended wraparound cover with French flaps.
Mikura Amelia is a free-spirited young woman who lives alone with her cat and operates an air delivery service, flying her vintage seaplane to Japan’s small island communities located hundreds of miles out in the Pacific. When her beloved grandfather passes away, she discovers he left her an undelivered parcel, addressed to an island that doesn’t exist ... or does it? To answer the question, Mikura flies off in search of the truth behind the Wandering Island!
* Retro flying adventure in the spirit of Hayao Miyazaki.
* Special extended wraparound cover with French flaps.
I have mixed feelings about this book, as I often do with manga.
For example, Wandering Island tends to take its time, as many manga do, with random panels, full pages or even sequences where the story kinda pauses and we just look at geography, or the sky, or the sea, or some guy smoking a cigarette. None of it really moves the story forward, as we linear-minded Western readers expect. I like that to some extent; the artist gets to stretch a bit, and show off, and it can be charming.
OTOH, get on with it already!
And as you can see from the preview, there's also a lot of fan service. It's not R-rated; we never see boobs or, heaven forfend, anything more. But our heroine tends toward very little in the way of clothing, and the "camera" lingers. Boy, does it linger. She's very long-waisted, almost freakishly so, and after a while I stopped enjoying the show and just started counting the number of narratively pointless scenes where Mikura streeeeetches or bends ooooooover or otherwise shows off that long, long waist. Hey, I like pretty girls as much as the next heterosexual male, but after a while I just felt like I was being manipulated and I didn't enjoy it any more. For heaven's sake, there's one sequence where Mikura gets an idea in the shower and jumps out to work on it -- naked, for page after page. Towels and such are conveniently placed so we stay in the PG range, but come on, we know why this scene is here. Is it really necessary to objectify Mikura that way? Are we male readers so shallow that we require such a scene?
OTOH, though, I really came to like Mikura, who is incredibly self-reliant. And I also learned a lot about non-Tokyo Japan, which we don't very often. It's fun to learn that in one of the most heavily populated countries on Earth, there are places -- the island chain in this book, for example -- which are sparsely populated. And there's also a lot of Western DNA in the genetic pool, due to historical factors explained in the afterword, so Western-looking people (like Mikura) don't warrant a second look or comment. That, too, is unexpected in a book set in Japan.
So there's good and there's not so good. I'll be back for volume 2, because it's a pleasant story. But if the central mystery drags on to a volume 3, I may lose interest.
WONDER WOMAN #2
Written by GREG RUCKA
Art and cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Variant cover by FRANK CHO
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
“WONDER WOMAN YEAR ONE” Chapter One: Running parallel to Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp’s “The Lies,” Rucka and artist Nicola Scott weave the definitive and shocking tale of Diana’s first year as Earth’s protector.
Well, this answers the question of how Wonder Woman can come out twice monthly without killing the artist. The first book of the month will follow one story with one artist, while the second book of the month will follow a second story with a different artist.
That gives us, essentially, two Wonder Woman books a month by the same writer. I hope they package it that way when it comes to TPB time, or it could be a little confusing.
Anyway, this story is called "Year One," and yes, it's another &(#@)(!! origin story. That's OK, especially since it doesn't establish anything new (or choose between WW's previous origins) -- this issue has more characterization than revelation. And it's fine.
The selling point for me is Nicola Scott. She doesn't lavish the rendering love here that she does on her creator-owned Black Magick over at Image, which is understandable. But she's such a strong artist, especially with realistic-looking (and attractive) women, that she's perfect for this series.
WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #9
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by RAÚL ALLÉN
Cover A by RAÚL ALLÉN
Cover B by PERE PÉREZ
Cover C by TOMAS GIORELLO
Variant Cover by STEVE LIEBER
Variant Cover by DEAN HASPIEL
$3.99 • 32 pgs. • T+
“LABYRINTH” – PART 3
“LABYRINTH” delivers the killing blow!
The darkest hour of the Eternal Warrior’s long life has arrived with blood and torment. Behind every wall and around every corner of the Dying One’s “LABYRINTH,” new and sadistic ways to burn, tear, and break Gilad Anni Padda await. As the Eternal Warrior’s greatest enemy inches closer to unlocking the secret of never-ending life, is all hope lost for Earth’s immortal soldier?
The monumental Eternal Warrior epic of the year delivers another crushing blow as New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (BOOK OF DEATH) and visionary artist Raúl Allén (Hawkeye) enter the darkest corner of “LABYRINTH” yet!
If you read the last issue, then you know the solicit above is a bunch of hokum. Gilad has found a loophole in the maze defenses (magic), and has escaped. He is now on the offensive. That's not to say The Eternal Enemy (that's what he was called in 1990s Valiant, anyway) isn't unprepared. But the scales are more balanced now, and it's become a contest.
As you can probably tell, I'm having fun with this story. I'm not as crazy about the art, which is loosey-goosey, which isn't what is required by a story that needs the shock and gore of combat to drive the narrative. But the story carries it, at least so far.
Replies
The only one of these I read was Nightwing: Rebirth #1 which left me just a tad...cold. Dick Grayson is one of my all time favorite characters, and while I'm happy to see him back in costume, I'm not terribly excited by anything I saw there.
I liked the Nightwing book a lot -- Seeley & Paquette give Dick tons of charm -- but since it promises more Owls, I'm gonna hold off on the regular title. DC is already making money hand over fist from me; I'm reading tons of books I hadn't expected to.
Wonder Woman's got plenty of hunky guys, too -- Nicola Scott draws the most attractive people ever.
Like you, I was stunned by the revelation in Detective. And I was reading it this morning on the train, listening to an Ennio Morricone soundtrack, so the drama was heightened to the max. This is my favorite bat-book.
And I watched Wacky Races all the time when I was a kid, Cap. I loved it. And yet, it's not really the type of cartoon you remember a lot from -- so I'm in the same boat as you. A lot of people I barely recognize doing stuff I don't care about. I decided to give issue 2 of Wacky Raceland a pass and bought Mad Max: Fury Road on Blu-Ray instead.