Writer: James Tynion IV
Artists: Lisandro Estherren, Patricio Delpeche
Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Text Page Designer (Thessaly Special): AndWorld Design

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Summary

The second volume of James Tynion IV’s take on The Sandman Universe, Nightmare Country: The Glass House is finally here!

This gorgeous hardcover edition includes all six chapters of The Glass House and the one-shot Thessaly special. The dust jacket art, featuring the Corinthian, and the main cover, with the King of Pain, are both by Reiko Murakami. Also collected are all the main and variant covers.

New York artist, Madison Flynn, has been murdered by the re-animated corpse of her best friend, Kelly (AKA “Kells”). Now, the reborn Corinthian, along with Madison’s spirit, are both on the trail of the deadly duo behind Kelly’s murder, Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstasy.

The two rogue nightmares killed Madison, and others because they could see a new nightmare, The Smiling Man, during waking hours. More troubling still, this nightmare was seemingly not a creation of Dream. To add even more fuel to the fire, it seems that Agony and Ecstasy had been commissioned to commit these murders by Desire, Dream’s younger sibling and frequent adversary.

Madison has been granted new flesh by Death of The Endless, at her brother Dream’s behest. Neither one seems to know of Desire’s involvement at this moment in time.

Positives

Nightmare Country‘s back! Thankfully Lisandro Estherren, Patricio Delpeche, and Simon Bowland have returned, alongside James Tynion. This issue cleverly picks up exactly where volume one left off, adding new characters to the tale and, by the end of the book, bringing back yet another huge presence from Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman run. We also meet another old “friend” from the classic “The Doll’s House” saga, again.

There are still people out there who have also seen The Smiling Man, and we can only wonder how long it will be before Agony and Ecstasy will be on their trail. Add a whole ton of supernatural intrigue, clubs that no one should want to be a member of, and the return of Kells, and this is one super-loaded graphic novel!

It may be hard to believe, but the art and colors by Lisandro and Patricio have actually improved since volume one. This book looks amazing, and Madison’s new form made me very happy indeed. The nods to the first arc are wonderful, and the love for the entire Sandman Universe, as created by Neil Gaiman, is palpable.

Simon Bowland also continues to impress with his letters, particularly when they clearly differentiate humans from angels, demons, and Endless.

James Tynion is sick, twisted, and terrifying. Great work, sir… keep it up. The saga of Kels and Max is as dark a love story as I could ever dream of and features a set of circumstances beyond my wildest imaginings. How does he even think this stuff up? Kelly’s just the sweetest… entity/ghost/spirit and I’m sure the undead deserve love too, right? Of course, when her beau, Max, discovers who she was and what she did; cats, pigeons, cans, and worms will be all over the place.

Kelly’s one of the residents of “The King Of Pain”, a nightclub that links our plane to Hell itself. This is the place where the richest, and those in their employ, can cater to all their most twisted needs and desires… or should that be Desires? Of course, we now know that Agony and Ecstasy, the evil duo who killed Kelly and forced her to kill Madison, were working for Desire of The Endless, one of the younger siblings of Destiny, Death, and Dream.

The addition of Thessaly as a main character opens up a world of storytelling possibilities that this exceptional creative team is grasping with both hands and running with.

Never in my wildest imaginings could I ever have believed that love between an undead girl and a mortal man could feel beautiful and real, but Max and Kells are so brilliantly written and drawn that I can’t help but root for them. Thessaly has always been infuriating, and now that she knows who’s been pulling the strings, even hers (from waaay back in the original Sandman series) I know that sparks are going to fly. Will she and Daniel’Dream cross paths?

Seeing Azazel, The King Of Pain, Dream, and his siblings in this book always makes me happy, so this book ticked a lot of boxes.

The creeping horror continues to unnerve and disturb, in the most delicious and entertaining ways. Is the Corinthian going to revert to type? Is he really working with Madison and Dream, or with the demon Azazel? Knowing the mind of James Tynion, I think we’ll get an answer somewhere between those two extremes that will both surprise and delight us.

All the breadcrumbs James Tynion’s been dropping since Nightmare Country volume one are starting to bear fruit, including the huge bombshell that closed the story. Dream has become embroiled in the events occurring in this series, so I can’t wait to witness the fireworks when he discovers that, once again, one of his younger siblings is neck-deep in the whole mess. In fact, it looks like they’re the one who’s behind the whole scenario.

I’ve been following Dream and his siblings since day one, so seeing them honored and homaged in great new comics makes me very happy indeed.

The secret of the Smiling Man has haunted readers for close to two years now and the story of Madison Flynn has been a source of terror and delight the entire time. Seeing her, The Corinthian, Max, and Kells get swept upon by a wave of demons, serial killers and the whims of The Endless has made this series feel closer to Gaiman’s classic than any other spin-off/follow-up that’s come before.

The power that Dream displays in this collection is nothing short of awesome. The way he handles both his creations and his various enemies is unbelievable. Tynion’s take on Daniel is perfect; he’s got the will and determination of Morpheus, but an edge and confidence that the original Dream never possessed.

First, let me say straight off the bat, that Thessaly is a horrible person. However, she’s a fascinating, deep, and extremely complex character. I’ve followed her story since her first appearance in issue #32 of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman (1991). She’s gone from being a terrifying, bigoted, and ultra-powerful witch in “A Game Of You“, to Dream’s lover, magical avenger, and force of nature in her more recent appearances.

James Tynion has a real grasp on the character and is finally showing us her past in Nightmare Country: The Glass House. By doing so, he lets us see some of the moments that made and forged her. The brilliant part is that all of this fits in with what we’ve already seen of her over the decades, honoring what her creator has already told us about her while adding more flesh to the bones of her history. I must also laud the way James creates new side characters that I immediately fall in love with. They’re all so flawed, human, and real!

Maria Lovet is a wonderful artist who gives readers a Thessaly as great as the one drawn by her co-creator, the inimitable Colleen Doran. The art in the chapter starring Thessaly is gorgeous; simple, clean, atmospheric, and, dare I say it, magical. This great story works both as a follow-up to The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #6 and as a chapter in the ongoing saga of Madison Flynn.

Yes, the writing, art, and Simon Bowland’s lettering in this book are (as always) first-rate, but I think I need to name guest creators AndWorld Design (AKA Deron Bennett) as the MVP of Thessaly’s tale.

I love experimental comics, and DC has been spoiling us recently with issues that tell a story as one continuous 20-page image, an entire story seen from one character’s POV, and the incomparable DC Black Label horror series, The Nice House On The Lake (also written by James Tynion). This chapter contains entire pages dedicated to text and art that are so seamlessly intertwined, that the reader’s left wondering whether the artist, colorist, or letterer was responsible for the final result. With this story, I finally have my answer.

The tale features several text pages, but they’re so lovely to look at that you’d be completely justified in calling them works of art. Some look like ancient scrolls, others like pages from a storybook, and yet others like a movie script (the scroll pages are featured below).

AndWorld didn’t just letter these pages. No. Just like the way they did in TNHOTL they imagined and executed the designs, created the textures, and provided the color. As usual, I’ve been left in awe. I cannot understand people who don’t see comics as true literature or art, because, for me, they’re the perfect marriage of both.

Negatives

How long until the final volume? Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Verdict

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: The Glass House closes with style and power. James Tynion’s foray into Neil Gaiman’s world of dreams and nightmares has never disappointed, and with the final act of this incredible dark fantasy/horror coming in 2024, a clash between Dream and Desire (and possibly Despair too, if the cover for the final chapter’s anything to go by) is edging ever closer.

A war is coming, and I can’t wait. The final chapters of this tale are tantalizingly close, but still just beyond our reach. I will wait, however impatiently, as I know what’s coming will deliver a story for the ages. This book gives readers the perfect close to this arc while leaving us all begging for more. Like the winter season itself, the wait will be a long, cold one… but one I believe will ultimately be worth it.

I’ll see you all again in dreams.

Review Copy Courtesy of Penguin Random House. Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment.

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: The Glass House Collected Edition is available now from all good book and comic retailers: ISBN 9781779520722

The post Book Review: Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: The Glass House – Collected Edition appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer, Javier Rodríguez
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives -Collected Edition is finally here, and Charles and Edwin are back! Who? You may ask. Worry not, dear reader, I’ll have you caught up before you can say, Thessaly.

Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine first appeared in the now-classic The Sandman #25 (April 1991). They were created by Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner, and Malcolm Jones III during the brilliant “Season of Mists” story arc (Volume 4 of the Sandman graphic novels series, which is reprinted in Book Two of the lovely new set of collected editions).

This vintage tale saw Lucifer give up his throne and relinquish the key to the gates of hell. The underworld was then emptied and the dead once again roamed the Earth. Death of the Endless had a tough time rounding up the denizens of hell and both Charles and Edwin, rather than move on, decided to stay on Earth and solve supernatural crimes.

A lot more has happened in one-shots, crossovers, a mini-series, as well as in an ongoing Dead Boy Detectives series, over the years, but that’s all everyone needs to know, in a nutshell. Oh, and the characters have appeared in the HBO Max TV series Doom Patrol too.

Positives

If you’ve read The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, you’ll know that it ended in a cliffhanger. This issue follows on directly, making the two stories almost feel like one. Another Sandman character, the witch Thessaly, made an appearance at the end of Nightmare Country, and she plays a part in this book, too.

Eisner Award-winning writer, Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel), has woven a tale of horror and dark magic that gripped me from page one. His use of Thai folklore and legend is fascinating and engaging. His resumé speaks for itself, as he’s written Swamp Thing stories for DC, TV’s Cloak & Dagger for Marvel, and many other horror comics and books. As a writer of Thai-American heritage, his insight into Asian supernatural lore is refreshing and intriguing.

In the story we meet three Thai ghosts; Melvin, a Snake Ghost, Jai, a Hollow-Backed Ghost, and Tanya, a Mother Ghost. Having died between the 1970s and the present the three were taken care of by the Thai “Ghost Doctor”, Dom. The main antagonist in the book is a fourth ghost, the deadly Krasue. This monster is a normal human woman by day, but at night her head and spine detach and fly around the city, hunting down helpless victims. I know… right?!?

Our heroes are also attacked by a horde of mutilated ghost babies (known as the Kumanthong), who are both stomach-churning and heartbreaking. Pornsak Pichetshote’s scripts are textured and his imagination is wonderful. Dead baby ghosts are terrifying, but the fact that they may also have feelings makes them all the more tragic.

Edwin and Charles have an unorthodox relationship, and we’ve seen that. The fact that these are ghosts with feelings and emotions elevates the intensity of events and makes the characters so much more relatable.

I’m totally into this mythology. Thai culture and spiritual beliefs are brand new to me and I find them fascinating. The way the new ghosts only appear at night makes Charles and Edwin’s work harder, and the book that much more fun to read. This adds a whole extra layer of tension and drama to the proceedings.

Pichetshote’s tale is part whodunnit, part thriller, and 100% horror. The best bit is, that while every cast member is dead, they’ve all got more spark, humanity, and personality than some folks that are still alive. The script is great fun to read and every character has their own strengths and characteristics, making them fascinating to follow.

The art by Jeff Stokely and Miquel Muerto (what a great name for a color artist working on a horror book) is lovely. The characters and colors are quite bright and punchy, and even though the visuals are quite simple-looking (in a good way), this makes the grotesquery of the gore and horror that much more powerful. This story’s brand new, yet it looks and feels like it would fit in my 1990s Sandman library effortlessly. Muertos’s lovely colors make the art shine and don’t overshadow or smother the subtle line work.

From chapter two onward, the creative team is joined by inker Craig Taillefer, who does what any great inker should do; finish the penciller’s art in a way that highlights both artists’ skills, but doesn’t wash away the penciller’s style. Yes, the visuals in this book are fairly cartoony in style, but the skill is in the storytelling, the characters’ faces, and the deep, rich backgrounds.

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou had already impressed me with his excellent work on Sword Of Azrael, so I knew the lettering on this book would be great too. Yay, me… I was right! His ghost text, sound effects, and chapter headings are simply gorgeous. From little notepads showing us what the characters are thinking (nope I really don’t miss thought bubbles at all), to ghostly dream speak, and big loud, almost manga-style arguments between the characters. All of his work is stellar.

We have a guest artist drawing all but the final page of chapter four, the brilliant Javier Rodríguez. I’ve been following this artist’s work since the late 90s when he worked for the publisher Ediciones La Cúpula. He was one of many artists working on the wild and whacky title El Víbora, published in my native country of Spain between 1979 and 2005. American comics fans may primarily know him as a color artist, from titles such as Batgirl: Year One for DC, but this guy can draw! His work on this chapter is lovely, and I would dearly love to see even more of his art across DC in months and years to come.

This book raises so many fascinating questions. If ghosts are already dead, how can they be “killed”? Pornsak Pichetshote’s written one hell of a tale, not just because of the haunted goings on, but also because of all the wonderful semi-autobiographical touches he adds, due to being a Thai-American. Honestly, this book is great.

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives isn’t just a horror story either, as we also get some amazing social commentary. Shootings in schools, bullying, racism; all these topics are handled in this book. The best thing is that Pichetshote’s not smacking us around the head with politics, he’s doing what all the best writers do and uses fiction to hold a cautionary mirror over fact. Why is it only children who seem to be capable of learning and wanting change? Have all adults truly just given up?

The fascinating glimpse into ghosts from across the globe, the re-introduction of three favorite characters from Neil Gaiman’s legendary Sandman series, and the horror and humor they all bring have been an absolute delight. I know that’s a weird thing to say about a horror comic, but it’s true.

Negatives

None. Whether you only know Charles and Edwin from this book, or if you’ve followed their adventures for decades, writer Pornsak Pichetshote has you covered. With every chapter, we learn more about our heroes.

Verdict

I’ve learned about new mythologies, felt scared, laughed, and had my heart broken. As a lifelong comics fan, this is the kind of series that proves the validity and power of the medium. It still upsets me when people put comics down, particularly when there are great stories like Dead Boy Detectives on the shelves.

The entire Sandman Universe has always been built on diversity and representation; both in its cast of characters and in the depth of stories it’s always told. The creative team behind Dead Boy Detectives is honoring that legacy and building on it beautifully.

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives delivers everything I love about comics. Great characters, next-level threats, humor, scares, and thrills. The fact that it also educates while it entertains is a huge bonus. While this is a brilliant horror story, it also sheds light on life, love, and the problems faced by the children of immigrants.

This terrific book collects all six issues. It also presents the main and standard variant covers before each chapter, and has a nine-page gallery with all the other variant covers at the back of the book. For anyone wanting to know or read more about The Sandman Universe, there’s also a four-page reading guide.

The post Book Review: The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives – Collected Edition appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer/Artist: Sina Grace
Color Artist: Chris Peter
Letterer: AndWorld’s DC Hopkins

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Summary

Sina Grace (Iceman, Ghosted in L.A.) has always been a writer/artist whose work I’ve enjoyed and admired, and Superman: The Harvests Of Youth isn’t just one of the best things he’s ever produced, it’s become one of my favorite YA books and Superman stories… ever.

DC’s range of Young Adult Graphic Novels are some of the finest books out there. I haven’t been a teenager for over thirty years, but these volumes make me feel, think, and are always super entertaining.

This story is, at its heart, one about ordinary people. Yes, everyone knows that Superman is far from ordinary, but that’s part of the magic and power of the character. As Clark Kent, although he’s handsome, smart, and talented, all he wants to be is an ordinary guy. Superman is all about protecting the “ordinary”, the innocent, and those who need his help.

Positives

Let’s be honest, if we had powers like Superman’s, would we use them in the same way he does? Or would we be more like the pitiful super-powered deviants that populate the pages of stories like The Boys? Superman’s greatest power isn’t his superhuman strength, his ability to fly, or the ability to shoot heat beams from his eyes. No. What makes Superman great and inspirational is the way he uses his special abilities to protect and aid those who have none.

Sina Grace gets this. Superman: The Harvests Of Youth gives us a young Clark Kent, a teenager still trying to find his place in the world and learning to use his gifts. When tragedy hits Smallville he learns that, even with his amazing abilities, he can’t save everyone. We may have read tales like this before, but seeing real teenagers with real problems and all the pressure they face – with the future Man of Steel as one of them – makes this Superman story feel all the more grounded and real.

Of course, having a story based in Smallville means that we get to see all the classic residents of this wonderful mid-western town; Lana Lang, Pete Ross, Chloe Sullivan, and Ma & Pa Kent. All of them are pitch-perfect in this book, but the addition of brand new characters Gil Stockwell and Amy Buenaventura (great surname, get your Spanish phrasebook out) adds to the uniqueness and power of this book.

Sina says in his afterword:

There’s no denying that Clark Kent and the people of Smallville are amongst the most iconic in pop culture, so the importance of getting to write and draw a story about Superman’s formative years was not lost on me.”

He goes on to say:

Who are these people in real life? How much will they resemble previous interpretations of the past? What makes my perspective unique?”

Having read the book, all I can say is, “Sina… you nailed it.”

The dialogue is fresh, realistic, and modern, the character designs are perfect and timeless, and the surprises and twists are next level. As soon as we see the teenage Lex Luthor certain expectations are raised. Of course, young Lex clearly showcases some of the characteristics of the man and villain he will eventually become, but the real antagonist of the book is a massive surprise. In fact, the term antagonist may not be the best one to use in this case. The real enemy here is humanity and the way people treat each other, the “villain” of the piece just uses all of that in the worst ways possible.

Sina’s writing and art are terrific throughout, and the storytelling is absolutely sublime. Just check out the facial expressions and love displayed by Ma and Pa Kent in the pages above. What’s amazing is that his work is elevated even further by the gorgeous warm, subtle color palette employed by the brilliant Chris Peter. The earthy, natural tones in this book enhance and add to the atmosphere. Somehow, even in the powerful action scenes near the end of the story, everything feels grounded, and real. Just the fact that we get bronze/copper-toned robots, instead of the usual chrome/steel deal is a huge plus. Nice work, Mr. Peter.

AndWorld Design is one of the finest lettering/design studios in the comics industry, and the work by DC Hopkins in this book is exemplary. There are very few sound effects in this story, in fact, most of the lettering is made up of character dialogue. However, the design choices made by Hopkins and Sina Grace are completely on the money. Where we do get sound effects, they look like part of the art, rather than big, hyper-flashy special effects. In fact, in places they look like Sina may have just drawn them in himself. Also, the choice to have lower-case font dialogue throughout the book really works and adds to making everything feel like conversation, rather than melodramatic exposition.

In short, every member of this creative team has knocked it out of the park.

Negatives

This is just nit-picking. Some of what happens in these pages (and I hate the fact that I’m typing this) goes against what we know to be Superman canon. However (and I love the fact that I’m typing this) I DON’T CARE! These people feel real, the emotions hit home, and we’re being shown the ugly side of society in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or heavy-handed. This is the kind of book I want every teenager and young adult to read; not just because they need to know that they’re not alone, but because this book is fun and one of the best Young Superman tales I’ve ever read.

Verdict

Superman: The Harvests Of Youth is a wonderful story. For me, it ranks with John Byrne’s original Man Of Steel, and Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Superman For All Seasons as one of the finest tales of Clark Kent’s formative years. Please, do not sleep on this book, buy a copy and share it.

Review Copy and Cover Art Courtesy of Penguin Random House. Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

Paperback
$16.99
Out NOW
ISBN: 9781779511058

The post Book Review: Superman: The Harvests Of Youth appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer and Lead Penciller: Phil Jimenez
Additional Pencillers: Travis Moore, Brandon Badeaux
Inkers: Andy Lanning, Lary Stucker, Marlo Alquiza, Kevin Conrad, Jose Marzan Jr.
Color Artists: Patricia Mulvihill, and Tom McCraw with Heroic Age
Letterer: Comicraft

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Published by DC Comics – ISBN Published by DC Comics – ISBN 9781779524379

Available from Penguin Random House

Summary

Last month I had the great fortune and privilege of reviewing the all-new version of Paradise Lost, now the great folks at Penguin Random House have been kind enough to send me the equally amazing follow-up collection, Wonder Woman: Paradise Found (2023 Edition).

Just like its predecessor, this great book collects a seminal arc by Phil Jimenez. It recounts one of the greatest Wonder Woman sagas of all time, as well as being one of the inspirations behind the forthcoming Paradise Lost Warner Bros. TV project.

Here’s the book synopsis from the Penguin Random House Website:

Wonder Woman’s world is falling to pieces. Her home of Paradise Island has faced a devastating civil war, and her mother, Queen Hippolyta, has abolished the monarchy, ending Diana’s status as a princess.

 

Acclaimed writer/artist Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman: Historia) is joined by inker Andy Lanning and cover artist Adam Hughes for one of the most difficult chapters of Diana’s life. This story reveals that a dear friend of Diana’s has been transformed into a deadly enemy, we see an intergalactic war and the return of an arch-nemesis that may spell doom for all the superheroes of the world.

 

With battle after battle facing Wonder Woman, is there any hope that Diana can once again find paradise?

 

Collects Wonder Woman #171-177, as well as selected pages from Wonder Woman: Secret Files #3.

Also featured are all the Adam Hughes covers and character bios for Diana, Hippolyta, and the Amazons, plus a recap of the events of Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost.

Positives

First and foremost, this is a book written and penciled by Phil Jimenez. This is an extreme positive, in and of itself. The rest is pure gravy. We also have guest pencils by Brandon Badeaux and a very young Travis Moore. Now, anyone who knows me at all knows how much I love Travis’ work. To my mind, he’s one the best artists working in comics today. Seeing his early work here was wonderful. Even though he was clearly new to the game at this point, you could already see the makings of a great artist in these early pages.

This is a comic to really sink your teeth into. Most of today’s comics hardly give you anything to read, while this book’s fairly word heavy, by comparison. To me, this is a plus as I feel like I’m getting more entertainment for my money. Don’t worry, though. This isn’t 90s/90s Claremont X-Men, but there’s still more text here than you may be used to.

Comics fans know that every now and then, a big cosmic event comes and takes over the stories going on in your favorite books. Sometimes this can be a nightmare, as whatever ongoing plot threads and character arcs going on are sometimes cast aside, or even completely ignored for the event’s sake.

The end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003 saw DC publishing the alien invasion epic, “Our Worlds At War, and, of course, as one of the publisher’s flagship characters, Wonder Woman had to be involved. Phil Jimenez, rather than ignore the amazing work leading into the book and that would follow after the crossover, deftly weaved his narrative and that of the saga together, almost seamlessly. You will not need to track down the many OWaW collections to understand or love this book. I fact, if I hadn’t mentioned it you may never even have noticed.

What this means is that within this epic graphic novel, we get gods, aliens, war, terror, death, tragedy, and more action than a summer of blockbusters. This book clearly inspired the now legendary Snyder cut of Justice League, but there’s so much Amazon Lore, DC characterization, history, and world-building going on too that all fans, old or new, will pick up a book that will thrill and entertain them from cover to cover.

Think about it! A new Cheetah, the second Silver Swan (what a shock that was!), Imperiex, Darkseid, Circe, The Joker, and Lex Luthor feature as the villains of the piece. Then we get stellar appearances from Superman, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Cassie (Wonder Girl) Sandsmark, Tempest, Jade, Donna Troy, Artemis, The Titans… and the list goes on.

Negatives

Are you kidding me? Reading this book was a complete blast. Yes, I was viewing it through nostalgia-tinted sunglasses, but I’ve re-read newer stories that have aged far worse than these ones. This is vintage comic book entertainment and the most fun you can legally have for 20 bucks.

Verdict

Historically, this saga clearly shows when Phil Jimenez stepped out of George Pérez’s shadow and proved that he was now a creative talent as rounded and as brilliant as his mentor could have hoped he would ever become. That’s about the highest praise I can give.

The only thing that could be better than buying yourself a copy of this gorgeous new edition of Wonder Woman: Paradise Found would be to get it at the same time as you pick up Paradise Lost. This is vintage, high-octane comics entertainment; but with heart, soul, character, tragedy, and true depth. We see Superman cry, get a tribute to the fallen from 9/11, and a true reminder of just how powerful comics can be.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment. Review Copy Courtesy of Penguin Random House.

The post Book Review: Wonder Woman: Paradise Found (2023 Edition) appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer and Artist: Phil Jimenez
Co-Scripters: J.M DeMatteis, Joe Kelly
Co-Potters: George Pérez, Devin K. Grayson
Inkers: Andy Lanning, Cam Smith, George Pérez
Color Artists: Pam Rambo, Patricia Mulvihill, with Jamison and Heroic Age
Letterers: Comicraft, Ken Lopez

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Published by DC Comics – ISBN Published by DC Comics – ISBN 9781779524393

Available from Penguin Random House

Summary

This brand new edition of Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost is required reading for fans excited about the upcoming Warner Bros./DC Entertainment television series, also named Paradise Lost, as announced by James Gunn as part of the first “Gods and Monsters” chapter of the new DC Universe media slate!

This great new edition collects Wonder Woman #164-#170, “Who is Troia” from Wonder Woman: Secret Files #2 and all the original series covers, by Adam Hughes.

Featuring one of the greatest Wonder Woman/Batman team ups ever, we see the Amazon Warrior and the Dark Knight come together to face The Joker, Scarecrow and Poison Ivy. However, these aren’t the supervillains that we know and love to hate, as their bodies have been possessed by the evil Greek gods Deimos, Phobos, and Eris… the children of Ares!

Positives

Where do I even begin? A Wonder Woman/Batman team-up written and drawn by the incomparable Phil Jimenez, and co-plotted with the legendary George Pérez, alone is enough to get any comics fan excited! In fact, this book delivers vintage, classic superhero action of the highest quality. Oh, and of course it looks fantastic!

Add in appearances by Troia, Nightwing, Artemis, Cassie Sandsmark, Tim Drake, Huntress, and Harley Quinn, and what you get is a comic book blockbuster for the ages. Then getting to see Queen Hippolyta as Wonder Woman fighting alongside the Justice Society, in a second brilliant story featuring Amazons at war with each other, is a massive bonus. Seeing Jay Garrick’s Golden Age Flash and Black Canary always make this old fan very, very happy.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Phil Jimenez is one of the finest writer/artists working in comics. Just take a glance at the pages attached to this review as evidence. The fact that this huge talent is also a fan shines out of every panel. Clearly this is a writer/artist that knows and loves these characters as, just like his mentor George Pérez, Jimenez is one of the few artists who draws all of them perfectly. The best part is that he’s also someone whose style stands out and is instantly recognizable.

What I love about this book is the level of storytelling and artistry on show. Yeas, it’s action packed, but we also get a wonderful range of expression and emotion from every character, as well as fantastic levels of detail, realistic (if heightened) human anatomy, and backgrounds that are rich, and full of depth.

Some modern comics seem to only focus on the characters, this is not the case with this book. From the alleys of Gotham City, the fields of Themyscira, the heights of Olympus, to the depths of Hades, what we get in Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost is a fully realized and lived in universe.

Negatives

I would really, really struggle to find anything to complain about with this book. No, it’s not Shakespeare or Dickens, but it’s an incredible piece of entertainment. The one thing I will say is that it’s only half of the story. Don’t panic, though, Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost can be enjoyed as a standalone graphic novel. However, seeds are sown and the the final page alludes to the great action yet to come, in Wonder Woman: Paradise Found, another collection which has had a lovely refresh!

Verdict

This book is well written, and fast paced, yet still full of heart and character. This is the story to give a Batman fan who wants to read about other DC characters, or the perfect gift for someone who wants to catch up on Wonder Woman’s greatest hits. If you love superheroic thrills, incredible action, larger-than-life characters and a real sense of threat, then this book is definitely for you.

The fact that the final story in this volume also appears in 2021’s wonderful Wonder Woman: 80 Years of the Amazon Warrior as one of the greatest Wonder Woman stories of all time is also an indicator of the quality of this collection.

Pick up a copy now, wherever books and comics are sold.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment. Review copy courtesy of Penguin Random House.

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Writers: J.M. DeMatteis, Robert Kanigher, Mike W. Barr, Dave Manak
Artists: Fred Carrillo, Pat Broderick, John Celardo, Bob Hall, Jerry Ordway, Dave Manak, Dan Spiegle
Color Artists: Adrienne Roy, Jerry Serpe
Letterers: Ben Oda, Esphid (Esphidy) Mahlium, John Costanza, Milt Snappin, Shelly Lefferman

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Published by DC Comics – ISBN 9781779524393

Available from Penguin Random House

With the news that an animated series is in the works and has already been cast, DC has polished, repackaged, and re-released the classic tales featuring the original team of Creature Commandos in a shiny new 2023 collected edition.

Creature Commandos (2023 Edition)

Here’s the pitch from Penguin Random House:

“Named by James Gunn as an influence for “Gods and Monsters”, the first chapter of the new DC Universe film and television slate! This volume inspires the upcoming animated TV series CREATURE COMMANDOS.

In one of DC’s strangest comics ever, a werewolf, a vampire, a gorgon, and a patchwork monster fight the German forces during World War II.

Originally published in the early 1980s, The Creature Commandos laid the groundwork for series like FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.

Collecting Weird War Tales #93, 97, 100, 102, 105, 108-112, 114-119, 121, and 124 – Creature Commandos is the perfect mix of supernatural and sci-fi!”

Summary

This great new book collects stories from all the original Weird War Tales issues that featured the characters, plus classic cover art by comics legends Joe Kubert, Ross Andru & Romeo Tanghal, Rich Buckler & Dick Giordano, Jim Aparo, Joe Staton & Bruce Patterson, Rich Buckler & Frank Giacoia, Mike DeCarlo, Gil Kane, and Trevor Von Eeden!

Also included are the two “Monster Marines” tribute/comedy strips by Dave Manak, from Weird War Tales #104 and #107.

Created by J.M. DeMatteis and Pat Broderick (Weird War Tales #93, November 1980), the original Creature Commandos were a platoon of scientifically created monsters, designed to battle the nazis and terrify the enemy in World War II (1939-1945). A far cry from the benevolent experiments that created Marvel’s legendary Captain America, this weird science gave the world a vampire named Vincent Velcro, a werewolf called Warren Griffith, and a Frankenstein’s monster-like patchwork man named Elliot “Lucky” Taylor.

Velcro agreed to be experimented on to avoid a court martial. Griffith was a meek, timid, stuttering farm boy, and Taylor, after barely surviving treading on a landmine, was pieced back together like Mary Shelley’s legendary creation. Of course, this was still the mid-20th century, so the results of these experiments were far from flawless.

All three men were good people to start with, but Velcro’s new blood-lust sometimes overcame him, Griffith’s transformations couldn’t be controlled, and Taylor, while strong and virtually unstoppable, was a pacifist at heart and rendered mute by his condition.

The team was later joined by Dr. Myrna Rhodes, a brilliant and beautiful medic who was transformed by toxic chemicals into a snake-haired, gorgon-like, warrior. The team was led by Lt. Matthew Shrieve, a character who, while still 100% human, was the nastiest, and biggest monster of them all, in terms of his character.

The Creature Commandos also teamed up with the first two G.I. Robots on occasion (J.A.K.E.s I and II).

Positives

This book was a revelation. I had read a few of these stories before, but I was only around 11 years old when they came out. At that age, they were just action, bluster, and horror to me. Reading them again as an adult, and as a father, I can now see that some of the tales collected in this volume were definitely ahead of their time. One story in particular really affected me, and I was genuinely shocked that it even saw print, particularly when the Comics Code Authority was still in full effect.

J.M. DeMatteis, still one of my all-time favorite comics writers, created a team that was arguably even more shunned by society than even the X-Men or Doom Patrol. Many of Marvel’s mutants look human, but the Creature Commandos are exact doppelgängers of the monsters from the most famous horror novels and movies. This means that we get to see the heroes of the stories – and, apart from Shrieve, they ARE heroes, through and through – experiencing depression, persecution, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. That’s deep stuff for a 1980s comic book!

The surprises don’t end there, either. We see dinosaurs, innocents taken down in rains of gunfire, and, in the shocking “Children’s Crusade” story, the most horrific scenes I’ve ever witnessed in a comic book that didn’t have a mature readers’ label on it. I’m not going to spoil the story, but if you think what the U.S. did to create the Creature Commandos was terrible, just wait until you find out who the Nazis experimented on!

This story sent a chill down my spine and broke my heart. The final pages are simply shocking, and this story was published long before Alan Moore’s notorious and wonderful Swamp Thing tales, or the launch of the adult Vertigo Comics imprint.

Negatives

These are tales from another era, so some of the dialogue and exposition-heavy storytelling haven’t aged that well. However, the stories themselves and the messages they deliver are as powerful now as they were forty years ago. Also, the art of lettering has come a long way over the years, and any hand-lettered comic will suffer from inconsistent quality, and sometimes imperfect panel placement.

Another smaller, gripe is that we only meet the original team. I’m hoping that DC sees fit to republish the 2000 series, the adventures after this volume, and the New 52 run that updated the team to a point where modern viewers will more readily identify with them. By the casting and designs of the upcoming TV series, it looks like the members of the team will be a mix of the classic 80s run, and the newer versions.

For comparison’s sake, Frankenstein from The Agents of S.H.A.D.E. is NOT the same patchwork monster as “Lucky” Taylor.

Verdict

Minor niggles aside, the new 2023 collection of Creature Commandos is a terrific book. Nostalgia buffs will love it, fans coming into comics from the upcoming TV show will want it, and anyone who has the desire to read comics that aren’t filled with superheroes in skin-tight costumes will get something very different from what they’re used to. Most importantly, this collection clearly shows that DC started the journey to grown-up comics four or five years earlier than I’d previously believed.

This volume is well worth investing 25 bucks in and is available now, from Penguin Random House or wherever books and comics are sold.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment. Review copy courtesy of Penguin Random House.

The post Book Review: Creature Commandos (2023 Edition) appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Hayden Sherman

Color Artist: Ronda Pattison

Letterer: AndWorld Design

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Published by IDW – ISBN 9781684059614

Available from Penguin Random House

Summary

Legendary writer Scott Snyder presents DARK SPACES – a thrilling new anthology series exploring our deepest fears of the unknown, beginning in the smoldering hills of California in DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE!”

Six weeks into the slow burn of the historic Arroyo Fire, a crew of women from an inmate firefighting program are risking everything on the frontlines, when their newest recruit – a white-collar convict with a deep network of shady dealers – discovers they’re mere miles from her crooked former associate’s abandoned mansion.

 

When she proposes a plan to abandon their duties and hunt for riches under cover of smoke and ash, the team must decide if they’re ready to jeopardize their one sure path back to normalcy for a shot at a score that would truly change their lives…but is this a flicker of fortune, or a deadly trap?

 

Scott Snyder and breakout artist Hayden Sherman craft an unforgettable heist for a new age in Dark Spaces: Wildfire, a collection of the five-issue debut of Scott Snyder’s Dark Spaces anthology series!

Positives

This five-issue mini-series from the end of 2022 features one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It was created by one of the best (and nicest) writers on the planet, along with an art team that has pulled together to create something so fresh and original, that it’s left me craving more.

I’ve had the distinct privilege of interviewing Scott Snyder twice, most recently at the 2022 Thought Bubble convention. He is a man who loves his craft, his fans, and the comic book business as a whole. While he’s primarily known for writing dark fantasy, horror, and a few stories about a certain Caped Crusader, Dark Spaces: Wildfire is unlike any Scott Snyder story I’ve read before. First of all, there are no monsters, no aliens, and no super-powered, spandex-clad, musclebound heroes in sight. What we do have is five women who feel, act, and speak like real, honest-to-goodness human beings. It’s wonderful.

I’m also a huge fan of Hayden Sherman, having fallen in love with their work on the sublime sci-fi series, Wasted Space. When I heard that this new story would be a collaboration between Hayden and Scott I knew I’d be getting a brilliantly written tale that would also look fantastic. What I wasn’t expecting was that the art in Wildfire is also unlike any Hayden Sherman art I’ve seen before. Once again, we’re getting work from an artist that I hugely admire, but it’s also new, fresh, and deliciously different.

Throw in some gorgeous color work by Ronda (TMNT!) Pattison and letters by industry giant, AndWorld Design, and what we get is a cinematic crime thriller, featuring some of the best characters ever.

Picture five inmates, a team of women fighting fires. They’re prisoners working for next to nothing, putting their lives on the line, and trying to make a difference, when an opportunity arises that could change their fates forever. This story has a ton of action, brilliant dialogue, and a cast of characters to rival a Hollywood blockbuster. These women are brave, loyal, and heroic, but some of them have pasts and secrets which come back to burn them all… quite literally. This is a story about camaraderie, crime, and a fight for survival.

Negatives

The one problem I have with this collected edition is that it was so good that I devoured it all in one sitting. This does the story an injustice. I really wish I’d known about this series earlier and read it as it came out, episodically. While that’s not usually how I like to read comics (I frequently wait until a mini-series ends before I read it), I do know, because the individual chapters all contain some of the best cliffhangers ever, that reading this series monthly would’ve been torture. However, the twists, the payoff, and the character development work better when they have a chance to sink in.

Please, don’t misunderstand me, though, I strongly urge everyone out there to buy this collection. What I will ask you to do though, is not to read it all in one sitting as I did. This will be hard, because it’s a real page-turner, but the effect will be a lot better if you try to just read a chapter a day.

Verdict

Dark Spaces: Wildfire is a fantastic piece of work. I fell in love with these characters and would love to read more about them. Yes, this story is completely self-contained, and you don’t need to read anything before or after it (although I’m sure that you’ll want to). There’s scope for a follow-up too, and I’d love to meet all these ladies again. That’s the sign of a story well told.

This book has a brilliant premise, solid characters, gorgeous art, and will stand up to multiple re-reads. In fact, it’s so good that I’d like a movie adaptation… and a sequel, please.

This is an action-adventure/drama/heist caper like no other. Highly recommended and available right now, wherever books and comics are sold.

Images Courtesy of IDW Publishing. Review copy courtesy of IDW, Penguin Random House, and the creative team.

The post Book Review: Dark Spaces: Wildfire appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artists: Lisandro Estherren, Yanick Paquette, Andrea Sorrentino, Francesco Francavilla, Dani, Aaron Campbell, Maria Llovet
Color Artists: Patricio Delpeche, Nathan Fairbairn, Jordie Bellaire, Francesco Francavilla, Tamra Bonvillain, Maria Llovet
Letterer: Simon Bowland

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Summary

The stunning Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country hardcover collected edition contains the complete first arc of the series, a gallery of all the main and variant covers, a haunting, yet beautiful dust-jacket cover by Alex Eckman-Lawn, plus a stunning hi-res print of the extremely rare 1:100 Death of the Endless cover, by Jenny Frison.

Here’s a brief synopsis from Penguin Random House:

Acclaimed writer James Tynion IV has waited his whole career to pay tribute to the mythos of The Sandman, the work that made him the writer he is today – and that time has come!

 

Designed to welcome new readers into one of the greatest worlds in DC’s library, The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country is a terrifying travelogue through a nation recognizable and obscene, which will show you things seen in no Sandman series ever before.

 

With spectacular art by Lisandro Estherren (Redneck, Strange Skies Over East Berlin) and “nightmare” sequences by comics art all-stars!

 

This volume collects The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #1-6.

Positives

This is a seriously good book and as strong a first volume as I could’ve wished for. James Tynion is one of the foremost horror writers in comics, and the incredible art teams who worked on this collection are as phenomenally talented as he is.

The main story, “Nightmare Country” is one of those tales that seem to bathe you in a slow, creeping, stream of horror that makes you feel like you’re drowning. Lisandro Estherren’s beautiful art then elevates that feeling because it’s the equivalent of sinking into sweet, delicious, but ultimately deadly honey.

The main protagonist is New York artist, Madison Flynn. She says she doesn’t dream anymore, but in waking hours she sees “The Smiling Man”, a golem-like lump of clay with three mouths, two of them where its eyes should be. When we meet her, Flynn isn’t the only person to see this creature, but she may well be the only one still alive. The duo behind the deaths of the other witnesses is hot on her trail, while the Corinthian, another nightmare with mouths for eyes, is even closer.

The reintroduction of the Corinthian sold me when Nightmare Country was first announced, as I’ve been enthralled by the character since their first appearance in Neil Gaiman’s original, legendary Sandman series. The way that this iteration of the nightmare has all the memories of the original, while they are separate entities and act and think differently, is masterfully handled.

The main antagonists, Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstasy are ruthless, remorseless, savage assassins who thoroughly enjoy their work. It’s great that, at first, we wonder whether the two Misters are kin to The Corinthian or, even worse, just sick evil human beings (the real monsters). They’re also a loving tribute to Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere characters, Messrs Croup, and Vandemar. Oh, and I’d love to be able to see all your faces when you find out who’s behind their killing spree!

The way that Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country comes across as a natural extension of Neil Gaiman’s classic series is wonderful and the appearance of other inhabitants of the Dreaming is also very welcome. The best part is that James Tynion is rewarding fans who have loved these stories for the last 30+ years, without alienating or baffling new readers.

We’re also treated to interludes in the first five chapters. I usually hate it when a comic is handled by more than one art team, but it really works within the structure of this particular narrative. These secondary “The Dreaming” stories, with art produced by different creative teams, tell the characters’ back story in gorgeous, original ways that don’t feel like an info dump or annoyingly intrusive exposition.

Anyone who knows me, or who regularly reads my reviews, knows that I’m a child of the Alan Moore era Swamp Thing, Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman epic, and all the Vertigo/DC Black Label books that followed. It’s clear that James Tynion feels the same way, and he cites The Sandman as being the reason he became a writer (See the trailer advertising the series at the bottom of this review and check out my interview with him here, or on YouTube).

Seeing Moore’s Boogey Man referenced (Swamp Thing Vol. 2, #44) alongside the Corinthian’s debut story (Sandman issues #9-16) made my heart leap with joy. Those classics, for me, were when comics grew up, so seeing these tales honored and expanded on is a delight.

The surreal quality of Lisandro Estherren’s art adds so much to the feel of this book and I don’t believe any ultra-realistic or even fully painted work would do the story as much justice. Estherren’s dream-like, cartoony style, coupled with haunting colors by Patricio Delpeche, all give readers a world that seems to be just on the wrong side of a cracked, cursed mirror.

Simon Bowland’s creative lettering also helps the nightmares sound inhuman and adds to the tension and drama. His reworking of the old “Dream Country” logo (Sandman volume three, issues #17-20, 1990, collected in book one of the new omnibus editions) is an evocative and brilliantly thoughtful plus.

Another wonderful aspect of this story is that the human characters are every bit as interesting as the dreams and nightmares that are invading their world. They’re deep, flawed, realistic, and sympathetic, which has already made me feel for them, and want to continue following their stories.

“The Cereal Convention” and “Chaste” side stories are a love letter to Neil Gaiman’s original, timeless, seminal Sandman run. We get to see more than one classic character from the original series other than the Corinthian too. The witch, Thessaly, is the star of the final chapter of the book, which leads straight into the follow-up series, Dead Boy Detectives. While she’s not a nice person, she’s a brilliant character.

The art and colors by Maria Lovet in the closing tale are similar enough in style to Estherren’s that they won’t jar readers, yet different enough that the story clearly feels like a new chapter in the ongoing series. The way she colors outside the lines adds a level of oddness and nostalgia that puts you on edge, while also reminding you of a more innocent, Ben-Day Dots era of years gone by. It’s very effective indeed.

Negatives

You’re dreaming…

Verdict

Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country is about as good a graphic novel as anyone could ask for. It delivers shocks, horror, betrayal, violence, and dark fantasy at the highest level. This book will happily sit on the same shelf as my Sandman originals because it’s more than worthy.

Review copy courtesy of Penguin Random House. Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment.

The post Book Review: Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country – Collected Edition appeared first on DC Comics News.

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Penguin Random House)

Writer: Brad Meltzer

Illustrator: Christopher Eliopoulos

Reviewed by: Joshua Raynor

**Thanks to Penguin Random House for the review copies**

Summary

I Am Batman:

The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader. The World’s Greatest Detective.

Yet before Batman became the protector of Gotham City, he was Bruce Wayne—a young boy full of fears after losing his parents. And even before that, he was simply an idea in the minds of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, who wanted to show people the power of an ordinary person.

This adventurous and fun introduction to Batman comes from the team who brought you the New York Times bestselling biography series Ordinary People Change the World. Now, they’re featuring the fictional characters who have sparked the imaginations of generations of kids.

I Am Superman:

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…

Yet before he was Superman, he was rocketed from the planet Krypton and raised as Clark Kent by two of the kindest, nicest people in Smallville. And even before that, he was simply an idea in the minds of two creative teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. At seventeen years old, they gave the world something to believe in.

This adventurous and fun introduction to Superman comes from the team who brought you the New York Times bestselling biography series Ordinary People Change the World. Now, they’re featuring the fictional characters who have sparked the imaginations of generations of kids.

Positives

These two books are simply wonderful. They give us the origins of these iconic characters, along with a brief history, but what’s most impressive is how they make it relatable to kids. Brad Meltzer doesn’t dumb things down for the children who are reading it. Instead, he speaks to them in a way that is easy to understand, yet cuts to the core of who these amazing characters really are.

In I Am Batman, Meltzer and his illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos take us through the death of Bruce’s parents, but it’s never actually shown. Instead, what they do is show you the before and the after, we see the Waynes at the theater and leaving, we’re told about the robbery, and then we are at the funeral. But they don’t sugar coat it, which I loved. They tell you that his parents died, because kids need to be able to process and comprehend what that means. Kids are smarter than they’re given credit for.

And one of the best parts of this book is how they give so much due credit to Bill Finger. From the first page, to the last, Meltzer makes sure to let every single reader know just how important Bill was to the creation of this character. I was amazing to see after all the years he was ignored and pushed to the side.

I Am Superman is similarly structured, showing Kal-El of Krypton as a baby, being sent to Earth, and growing up with the Kents, learning about who he his, and eventually becoming Superman. It showcases some of his greatest villains, as well as his greatest allies, and like I Am Batman, doesn’t tiptoe around the death of Jonathan Kent, as it was a major event in Clark Kent’s life. We also get an amazingly heartfelt scene with Superman attending a little girl’s birthday party that made me tear up reading it. It was beautifully done.

Both of these books leave the reader with amazing messages, whether it’s we fall so we can learn to pick ourselves back up, never let anything stand in your way, or that everyone deserves help. These are life lessons that every child should learn.

And I don’t want to end this without talking about Christopher Eliopoulos and his amazing artwork. It’s beautiful and vibrant and so full of life and energy. I adored looking at every single page of both of these books. I hope to see more of his art, and particularly this style, in possible future books.

Negatives

I couldn’t find a single thing to complain about in these. They’re wonderful.

Verdict

They are the perfect books for young readers who love superheroes, or even for those not familiar, but who want to learn. Every parent should pick up a copy of these, whether it be for the superheroes, the beautiful artwork, or the much needed life lessons. You won’t regret it!

SCORES:

I Am Batman – ORDER HERE

I Am Superman – ORDER HERE

The post Book Review: I AM BATMAN & I AM SUPERMAN appeared first on DC Comics News.

Zatanna: The Jewel Of Gravesend

Writer: Alys Arden
Artists: Jacquelin De Leon with Sam Lotfi
Letterer: Wes Abbott

Reviewed by Steve J. Ray

Summary

Zatanna’s not your typical New Yorker. She walks her giant rabbit on a leather leash down the boardwalk, lives in a colossal architectural wonder known as the Golden Elephant, had her first kiss in the Haunted HellGate ride – and wouldn’t have it any other way.

The time for having fun in Luna Park comes to an end when a mystic’s quest for a powerful jewel unravels everything Zatanna thought she knew about herself and her beloved neighborhood.

Mysteries and magic surround her as she reveals the truth about her family’s legacy, and confronts the illusion that has been cast over her entire life.

Positives

DC Entertainment’s ever-growing list of YA Graphic novels has never ceased to impress, and Zatanna: The Jewel Of Gravesend continues the trend. Here we have a book full of magic, wonder, and the most realistic set of teenagers I’ve seen in (the many years) since I was one, myself. The dialogue is witty and full of emotion and the art, if you’ll excuse me, is pure magic.

Of course, this is also a Zatanna unlike any we’ve seen before. As with most of DC’s YA range, the creative team has given readers a Zatanna much like the one that’s been around since the 1960s but has also given her a backstory befitting a 21st Century audience. Usually, I’m a painful stickler for continuity, but all these wonderful re-imaginings feel like “Elseworlds”-type tales and make for wonderful introductions to classic characters, but tailored to bring in a whole new audience.

Not only is Zee (or Tanna… that’s a new one, and I like it) brilliantly written, her cast of supporting characters is as expertly handled as she is. The villain of the piece isn’t clearly revealed until the late stages of the book, many of my suspicions proved unfounded, and many of my guesses were wrong. As someone who’s been reading comics for over 45 years, that’s no mean feat! Alys Arden, I salute you.

The art and color by Jacquelin De Leon and Sam Lotfi is just innocent enough to draw you in, yet full of subtle details, and hidden depth. Clever little tricks, like making flashbacks purple, help the book stand out and feel fresh and new. Every female character appears and even seems to move differently, and every male character is completely distinguishable from every other. No one is drawn like a hero or like a villain, and these are people who feel, look, and speak like the people we meet every day. There’s some great storytelling on these pages.

Negatives

Let me state for the record that I’m a huge Wes Abbott fan, but the lettering in this book made reading it a little tricky sometimes. I know that the soft art meant that heavy black outlines around the dialogue balloons would’ve been overkill, but a faint one would’ve made conversations easier to follow. This is a minor gripe as, apart from that, Mr. Abbott’s work was, as always, extremely good. His efforts do help to make the book look different.

Verdict

I’m a huge, card-carrying, die-hard Zatanna fan. Just read any comics review I’ve written about any story that features her, or listen to any of the podcasts I’ve appeared on that mention her, and you’ll know I’m telling the truth.

Zatanna: The Jewel Of Gravesend is a great book for those who, like me, already love the Zee, but it’s also one I’d gladly hand over to folks who may never have heard of her. Of course, with the rumor of music star Dua Lipa being considered to play Zatanna in an upcoming DC project, and J.J. Abrams’ Justice League Dark TV show in the works, those days are most definitely numbered.

The words and pictures in this book are enchanting, and it’s a highly recommended read. This book is for any adult, young or otherwise, and can be enjoyed by any fan aged 15-55… at the very least.

It’s out on July 26th, so go out and buy it for the magical person in your life.

Review copy courtesy of Penguin Random House. Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

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