Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Comics Review: "SABRINA Anniversary Spectacular #1" Introduces New Rival "Amber Nightstone"

SABRINA ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR #1
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: Dan Parent; George Gladir; Dexter Taylor; Frank Doyle
PENCILS: Dan Parent; Bob Bolling; Dexter Taylor; Stan Goldberg
INKS: Bob Smith; Rudy Lapick; Jon D'Agostino
COLORS: Glenn Whitmore; Barry Grossman
LETTERS: Jack Morelli; Bill Yoshida
EDITORS: Jamie Lee Rotante; Vincent Lovallo; Stephen Oswald
EiC: Mike Pellerito
COVER: Dan Parent with Rosario “Tito” Peña
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2022)

Rating: All-Ages

Sabrina in “Celebration Vexation”

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an Archie Comics character that was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo.  Sabrina Spellman first appeared in Archie's Madhouse #22 (cover-dated: October 1962).  2022 is the sixtieth anniversary of Sabrina's debut, and Archie Comics is honoring the character with the “60 Years of Magic” celebration.

The celebration includes a newly-released one-shot comic book entitled Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular #1.  The comic book reprints four Sabrina stories.  It also includes the new story “Celebration Vexation,” which introduces a brand new character, Amber Nightstone.  The new tale is written by Dan Parent; drawn by Parent (pencils) and Bob Smith (inks); colored by Glenn Whitmore; and lettered by the great Jack Morelli.

Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular #1 opens with “Celebration Vexation,” and it is Sabrina's 17th birthday.  Aunt Zelda and Aunt Hilda and Cousin Ambrose are throwing a party for their birthday girl, and of course, her cat, Salem, is present.  However, there is a party crasher, Amber Nightstone, who is also celebrating a seventeenth birthday.

Like Sabrina, Amber is also half-mortal and half-witch, and under the witch's “Code of Sorcery,” only one witch/mortal can achieve ultimate power.  And Amber wants to be the teen witch who gets to live in the mortal world.  So which of these female teen witches is going to have the best birthday?

THE LOWDOWN:  Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular #1 is an absolutely wonderful anniversary comic book special.  “Celebration Vexation” is one of writer-artist Dan Parent's best stories ever, and maybe he is the best modern Archie Comics storyteller.  Amber Nightstone, in this first look, seems to be a keeper as a character in the world of Sabrina, and I'm sure she can raise quite a bit of heck and hell in other Archie titles.

The four reprint stories include a one-page comic (“Sun Fun”), which finds Sabrina engaging a genie for some help, with painful results.  There is a “Little Sabrina” story (“Bats All, Folks”), which features Little Archie and Riverdale High regulars, Mr. Weatherbee and Miss Grundy.  Because of the new story, new character debut, and the quality of the reprinted stories, I highly recommend Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular #1.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic-style Archie Comics and of Sabrina the Teenage Witch will definitely want to get a copy of Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular #1.

A

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


https://archiecomics.com/
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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8914136-archie-comics


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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Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Comics Review: "PRODIGY: The Icarus Society #3" is Produced by Prodigies

PRODIGY: THE ICARUS SOCIETY #3 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Matteo Buffagni
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Matteo Buffagni with David Curiel
DESIGN: Melina Mikulic
EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Matteo Buffagni
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated M / Mature

Prodigy: The Icarus Society is a five-issue comic book miniseries produced by writer Mark Millar and artist Matteo Buffagni.  It is a sequel to the 2018-19 six-issue miniseries, Prodigy.  The Prodigy comic books focus on the adventures of the world's smartest man, Edison Crane, who believes that he is the go-to guy when there is a global crisis to solve.  Letterer Clem Robins and colorists Laura Martin and David Curiel complete the sequel's creative team.

Prodigy: The Icarus Society pits Edison against “The Icarus Society,” a secret society of geniuses who are all richer than Edison.  And now, he is caught inside the club's internal rivalries and blackmailed into hunting for the treasures of one of the most legendary locations of all time.

Prodigy: The Icarus Society #3 opens in the Himalayas, 1722, detailing two parties searching for the mythical kingdom of “Shangri-La.”  One of them is led by the pirate, Red Ana de Tourzel.  Three centuries later, Edison Crane is caught between the machinations of Icarus Society rivals.  One is the homicidal Professor Tong, and the other is Felix Koffka, the richest man in the world and the owner of the cars in which John F. Kennedy and James Dean respectively died.

When one outwits the other (or so it seems), Edison is working for man who works at a level no one else can understand.  For Edison, that means a journey into legend.

THE LOWDOWN:  Mark Millar has produced some incredible comic books since he became a Netflix executive.  The Magic Order is one of the twenty-first century's greatest comic books about magic.  Meanwhile, Prodigy has emerged as a spinner of conspiracies, legends, myths, and lore to rival cable network, The History Channel's “Ancient Aliens” television series.

Over the past quarter-century, Millar has been writing some of the most interesting and unique superhero comics:  The Authority, The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Wanted, Kick-Ass, and Nemesis, to name a few.  I think Prodigy should be added to that list.  While its star does not wear a costume, Edison Crane has the elements of such clever superhero characters as Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne, Karnak (The Inhumans), and Ozymandias (Watchmen), to name a few.  The difference is that Millar sends Edison on better adventures than those other characters have had in years, and Edison is better dressed.

Artist Matteo Buffagni has a drawing style that merges the clean line style, photo-realism, and textured inking.  The result is storytelling that captures the intimacy and violence of the conflicts between characters and the endless possibilities of the adventures before them.  David Curiel's colors convey the shadows and dark moods of Buffagni's compositions, while letterer Clem Robins makes the dialogue pop off the page with menace and mystery.

Mark Millar has stated that he wants to write comic books that readers really enjoy reading, and, in addition to his writing skills, he has a talent for gathering superb creative talent.  Prodigy: The Icarus Society #3 is the result of superb talent working hard for our enjoyment.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of his comic book, Prodigy, will want to read Prodigy: The Icarus Society.

A+

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


https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://www.netflix.com/
https://twitter.com/netflix
www.imagecomics.com
https://twitter.com/ImageComics


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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Comics Review: JOHN CARTER OF MARS #5

JOHN CARTER OF MARS, VOL. 1 #5
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Chuck Brown
ART: George Kambadais
COLORS: George Kambadais
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Vincenzo Carratu
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Edgar Rice Burroughs


John Carter is a character that first appeared in the serialized novel, Under the Moons of Mars (The All-Story, 1912), written by Tarzan creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.  When it was first collected and published in hardcover, the novel was re-titled, A Princess of Mars (1917), the first of Burroughs' “Barsoom” novels, which were set on Barsoom, a fictional version of Mars.  The novel also introduced Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars.

John Carter is a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who is transported to Mars via “astral projection.”  There he gets a new body that is similar to the one he leaves behind on Earth.  John makes several trips back and forth between Earth (which the Martians call “Jasoom”) and Barsoom, and Dejah and John eventually marry and have two children.

John Carter first appeared in comic books in the early 1950s and continues today as a comic book character via Dynamite Entertainment.  His latest comic book series is John Carter of Mars.  The series is written by Chuck Brown; drawn and colored by George Kambadais; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  In the new series, a re-imagining of and a sequel to the original “Barsoom” novels, John Carter is back on Earth and discovers that Martians are being transported to Earth while humans are being transported to Mars.

John Carter of Mars Volume 1 #5 opens in John Carter's mind, as he contemplates the sins of his past and the destiny that is his future.  Now, it is time for him to join his wife, Dejah, and the human, Thai, in their battle to stop the conspiracy against Earth and Mars hatched by the Therns and their Green Martian allies.  Meanwhile, Thai's husband, Lt. Fred Hines, and his fellow army officer, Charlie, travel through the “Carrion Caves” to retrieve the “Ninth hands.”

Ninth technology can bring the humans back to Earth and send the Barsoomians back to Mars, but only if John Carter can use his abilities to destroy a deadly meteor of Ninth metal hurtling towards Mars. However, in order to save two worlds, someone must make an impossible sacrifice...

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is John Carter of Mars Volume 1 #5.  It is the fourth fifth Dynamite John Carter comic book that I have read.

Writer Chuck Brown brings his fresh take on John Carter to a close.  Brown fills this series with strong action and violence and constant plot twists and turns.  John Carter of Mars is a revamp of the franchise into an energetic science fiction adventure with an ensemble cast of heroes.  It feels like there are numerous possibilities for another series.

Artist and colorist George Kambadais shines throughout this series with his splashy graphic design and dynamic illustrations.  He brings Brown's script to life as a fast-paced comic book that feels as if it not only spans worlds, but also time.  Kambadais' art super-charges Brown's script, from beginning to end, and the result is a thoroughly satisfying read.

John Carter of Mars is fun, and it feels like there should be more.  Dear readers, enjoy this while I hope for another adventure across two worlds.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dynamite's Barsoom comic books will want to try John Carter of Mars.

A-

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


https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
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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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Comics Review: VAMPIRELLA Year One #2

VAMPIRELLA  YEAR ONE VOLUME 1 #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Christopher Priest
ART: Ergün Gündüz with Giovanni Timpano (prologue)
COLORS: Ergün Gündüz with Flavio Dispenza (prologue)
LETTERS: Willie Schubert
EDITOR: Matt Idelson
COVER: Collette Turner
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2022)

Rated Teen+

“The History of the World”


Vampirella is a vampire and female superhero created by the late author and science fiction and horror expert, Forrest J Ackerman, and designed by comic book artist, Trina Robbins.  Vampirella first appeared in Vampirella #1 (Sept. 1969), the debut issue of a black and white horror comics magazine from Warren Publishing.  Writer-editor Archie Goodwin changed the character from a hostess of horror comics to a leading character in her own stories.

In 2010, Dynamite Entertainment obtained the character and has been publishing new Vampirella material since then.  In the wake of Vampirella Dracula Unholy comes a new series, Vampirella Year One Volume 1.  This new series is written by Christopher Priest; drawn by Ergun Gunduz; colored by Gunduz; and lettered by Willie Schubert.  Hunted seemingly by every natural and supernatural on Earth, Vampirella has taken refuge in an undisclosed location where she questions why she came to our world in the first place.

Vampirella Year One Volume 1 #2 (“The History of the World”) opens in a cave in Mount Sage, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.  There, Vampirella has found sanctuary with her friend/lover, LéGere.  Early in her pregnancy(!), she is recording her history for her unborn child, beginning with the story of preteen Vampirella.

Having fled the elite underground city of New Asema to hide from Lilith's enemies, a preteen Vampirella takes refuge on the surface world, which has been ravaged by a drought caused by her mother's machinations.  Taken in by a wealthy aristocrat, Vampirella learns compassion for Drakulon's underclass.  That leads to a comical petty theft that brings her into confrontation with her mother's mysterious Lieutenant.  He may expose the child's secret and ruin her one chance to escape her mother's influence.  Plus, the origins of the planet Drakulon and of the mysterious alternate reality Earth, “Arcadia,” are discussed.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Vampirella Year One Volume 1 #2.  It is one of many Vampirella comic books that have engaged my imagination this last year.

As with his previous Vampirella comic books, writer Christopher Priest offers lots of subplots and many characters.  So far, I have not warmed to Vampirella Year One, but this series may be exactly what Vampirella readers want.  It is by no means mediocre.  I am simply not crazy about it.

I still like the art in this issue, drawn by lead series artist, Ergün Gündüz, and by Giovanni Timpano, who draws the two-page prologues that lead each issue  There is enough Vampirella stuff in this second issue, as in the first, to bring regular bloodsuckers back...

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Vampirella comics will want to read Vampirella Year One Volume 1.

B

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


https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
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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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Monday, September 5, 2022

BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 7, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

JUL220357 BASILISK #11 CVR A SCHARF $3.99
JUL220358 BASILISK #11 CVR B SOOK $3.99
MAY220405 BUCKHEAD TP (C: 0-1-2) $14.99
JUN228428 GRIM #2 3RD PTG FLAVIANO $3.99
JUL220361 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #18 CVR A MERCADO $4.99
JUL220362 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #18 CVR B SECRET PLANESWALKER VAR $5.99
JUL220354 ONCE & FUTURE #29 CVR A CONNECTING MORA $3.99
JUN228427 SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #25 2ND PTG DELL EDERA $4.99

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Dark Horse Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 7, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR220337 ALWAYS NEVER HC (C: 0-1-2) $24.99
APR220331 APACHE DELIVERY SERVICE TP (C: 0-1-2) $19.99
FEB220365 ART OF BATTLETOADS HC (C: 0-1-2) $39.99
MAR220340 ASTONISHING TIMES TP (C: 0-1-2) $22.99
JUL220449 AVATAR ADAPT OR DIE #5 (OF 6) $3.99
MAR220344 BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 05 (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
JUL220471 CYBERPUNK 2077 BLACKOUT #4 (OF 4) CVR A RICCI (MR) $3.99
JUL220472 CYBERPUNK 2077 BLACKOUT #4 (OF 4) CVR B FIUMARA (MR) $3.99
APR220346 EC ARCHIVES CRIME PATROL HC VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $49.99
MAR220345 HELLBOY BONES OF GIANTS HC (C: 0-1-2) $24.99
MAR220346 HELLBOY SILVER LANTERN CLUB HC (C: 0-1-2) $24.99
FEB220366 IMMORTALS FENYX RISING TRAVELERS GUIDE TO GOLDEN ISLE HC (C: $14.99
APR220304 JOY OPERATIONS TP (C: 0-1-2) $24.99
APR220343 KALI HC (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
JUL220440 MIND MGMT BOOTLEG #3 (OF 4) CVR A RUBIN $3.99
JUL220441 MIND MGMT BOOTLEG #3 (OF 4) CVR B BRERETON $3.99
JUL220442 MIND MGMT BOOTLEG #3 (OF 4) CVR C PEREZ $7.99
JUL220372 SHOCK SHOP #1 (OF 4) CVR A LUCKERT & LEIZ $3.99
JUL220373 SHOCK SHOP #1 (OF 4) CVR B FRANCAVILLA  & MOON $3.99
MAY220496 STEPHEN MCCRANIES SPACE BOY OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $19.99
MAR220387 STEPHEN MCCRANIES SPACE BOY TP VOL 13 (C: 0-1-2) $10.99
JUL220451 SURVIVAL STREET #2 (OF 4) CVR A KUSSAINOV $3.99
JUL220452 SURVIVAL STREET #2 (OF 4) CVR B WARD $3.99
FEB220363 TWELVE PERCENT DREAD TP (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
MAR220389 USAGI YOJIMBO SAGA TP VOL 05 (2ND ED) (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
JUL220454 WARD #4 (OF 4) $3.99
APR220278 WE HAVE DEMONS TP (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

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Dynamite Entertainment Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 7, 2022

DYNAMITE

JUN220656 007 #1 CVR L METAL PREMIUM (C: 0-1-2) $100.00
JUL220609 007 #2 CVR A EDWARDS $3.99
JUL220610 007 #2 CVR B ASPINALL $3.99
JUL220611 007 #2 CVR C LEE $3.99
JUL220612 007 #2 CVR D WOOTON $3.99
JUN228773 007 #2 CVR J FOC FINNEGAN ORIGINAL $3.99
JUL220650 BILLY TUCCI MISS FURY LITHO PRINT (C: 0-1-2) $100.00
JAN220621 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR A CONNER $3.99
JAN220622 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR B LINSNER $3.99
JAN220623 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR C CELINA $3.99
JAN220624 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR D CHO $3.99
JAN220625 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
JUN228778 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR N FOC MORITAT ORIGINAL $3.99
JUN228779 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10 CVR O FOC COHEN ULTRAVIOLET $3.99
JUL220608 KARMA HC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $34.99
APR220461 MISS FURY JOY DIVISION SGN BOOK PLATE ED HC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
JUL220563 NINJETTES #1 (OF 5) CVR A LEIRIX $3.99
JUL220564 NINJETTES #1 (OF 5) CVR B LAU $3.99
JUL220565 NINJETTES #1 (OF 5) CVR C ACOSTA $3.99
JUL220566 NINJETTES #1 (OF 5) CVR D PIRIZ $3.99
JUL220567 NINJETTES #1 (OF 5) CVR E BLANK AUTHENTIX $3.99
JUN228760 NINJETTES #1 CVR O FOC LEIRIX ULTRAVIOLET $3.99
JUN228761 NINJETTES #1 CVR P FOC BLOOD RED BLANK AUTHENTIX $3.99
JUN228762 NINJETTES #1 CVR Q FOC DEATH BLACK BLANK AUTHENTIX $3.99
JUN220829 NYX #9 CVR I MATTEONI LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
FEB220666 PANTHA #4 CVR K BARRIONUEVO LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
JUN220770 SHEENA QUEEN OF JUNGLE #2 METAL CVR (C: 0-1-2) $100.00
MAY220556 VAMPIRELLA YEAR ONE #1 CVR P TURNER PREMIUM METAL (C: 0-1-2) $100.00

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