Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Christopher Peterson is a Shuster-nominated comic artist who has worked for Dark Horse, Boom Studios, Image, Black Mask, and other companies.
Back in 2016, I saw that Chris’ computer died and he was sketching to raise money to replace his work station. I set up a commission with Chris and he sent me this cool digital rendition of his take on Sly from Lords of Flatbush. You can check out more of Chris’ art here or follow him on Twitter.
I cannot tell you the last time I bought a super-hero comic. These days I go for crime and horror comics. Dan Brereton’s drawing of Electra and Wolverine got me thinking that I really wouldn’t mind seeing a team-up of these two. Written and drawn by the right team or individual and I’d be back to purchasing super hero comics.
Warner Bros. dropped the trailer for The Batman and it is rightfully getting a lot of positive buzz.
Truth be told, I hadn’t much interest in The Batman until seeing this trailer. While Batman is my favorite DC comic character and I’ve enjoyed all of the Batman movies to some extent, the change of director, star and focus of the new film left me with a wait and see attitude. Now that I’ve seen the trailer let’s talk…
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes The Batman, with director Matt Reeves (the Planet of the Apes films) at the helm and with Robert Pattinson (Tenet, The Lighthouse, Good Time) starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.
Also in the star-studded ensemble as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Mad Max: Fury Road) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (Love & Mercy, 12 Years a Slave) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (the Hunger Games films) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the Transformers films) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (The Magnificent Seven, Black Mass) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk) as Officer Stanley Merkel; Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (Planet of the Apes films, Black Panther) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Dumbo) as Oswald Cobblepot…
Based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. The Batman is set to open in theaters October 1, 2021 in select 3D and 2D and IMAX theaters and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Fans of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips will be glad to hear that on October 27, 2020, the Criminal Deluxe Edition, Volume 3 Hardcover will be released! I can’t wait. Here’s what it will contain…
This oversized deluxe hardback collects several short stories and novellas from the most award-winning team in the history of comics in a fantastically-designed book full of extras — illustrations, selected articles, interviews, behind the scenes looks, painted covers… and much much more! Collects the SAVAGE SWORD OF CRIMINAL and DEADLY HANDS OF CRIMINAL magazines, the novellas MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES and BAD WEEKEND, and issues 1 and 4 of the newest run of the CRIMINAL monthly series, two full length short stories about the LAWLESS family.
A true collector’s edition must-have for any fan of the best in crime comics.
The Criminal Deluxe Edition, Volume 3 is available for pre-order now.
I recently discovered (very late to this party) the web comic One of Those Days by Yehuda and Maya Devir. With a wonderfully fun art style, the jokes hit home and leave you looking forward to their next installment.
Based on the wildly popular webcomic, One of Those Days chronicles the life and love of Yehuda and Maya Devir as they take on the minutiae of marriage, the ups and downs of daily life, and the paradigm shift of new parenthood.
Yehuda and Maya Devir began illustrating their life in comics when they moved into their first apartment together in Tel Aviv as newlyweds. In the years since, One of Those Days has become one of the biggest webcomics on the Internet, with millions of followers around the world. Yehuda Devir grew up on superhero comic books, and the Devirs’ visual style is downright kinetic and bursting with life.
In this collection—the first time that the Devirs’ comics have been compiled in one volume—they share stories that are heartwarming, hilarious, and universally recognizable. So even for those who don’t feel like pulling out an assault rifle to wage war on a kitchen cockroach, the Devirs’ challenges and triumphs are instantly familiar to anyone who’s had one of those days.
Negan Lives! is a one-shot published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Spurned by a slowly rebuilding society, Negan lives a life of desperate isolation… or does he? In the tradition of Here’s Negan, this all-new story in Negan Lives #1 gives readers a glimpse into what has happened to one The Walking Dead’s most popular characters in the time since his last appearance in The Walking Dead #174.
The Walking Dead is one of the few (and easily the longest-running) series that I bought from issue one and went on to buy every single issue published. I’m a big fan.
When Negan Lives! was announced, I initially thought it was a bad idea. The tale had been told. Time to move on. Then I read that Negan Lives! would be made available to comic shops for free to help store owners recover revenue lost during the Covid pandemic. My opinion changed: it was a cool idea for shops, but not so much for readers.
I was wrong.
Negan Lives! is a fun story that answers some questions from The Walking Dead and actually could pave the way for more Negan stories.
Kirkman creates a situation that is obvious to the reader but in most stories would be oblivious to the main character. Not so, here. Negan is right there with us wondering if he is being set up. I won’t give anything away. It’s a fun story.
I’ve always enjoyed the team of Adlard and Rathburn and Negan Lives! is a great example of their abilities. Man, this one-shot reminded me of how much I missed that monthly Kirkman/Adlard/Rathburn fix.
Negan Lives! and we’re better off for it.
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Lost Soldiers #1 is part of a five-issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Vietnam, 1969. Juarez, forty years later. Three men tied by the war they left behind—on collision course with a new one.
Lost Soldiers isn’t your typical war comic. It’s more Sicario than Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, more Platoon than Our Army At War. Issue 1 lays the groundwork for the series, alternating between flashbacks of three young soldiers who first met in the jungles of Viet Nam and are now older career vets prepping for a mission into Juarez against a highly armed and motivated cartel.
When talking about Lost Soldiers, Alex Kot said, “The world needs bad men willing to do bad things so the world can stay good. Lost Soldiers is what happens when you buy into that idea so much that it becomes a curse… it is unflinching about the consequences of our actions. It spells them out in blood and pain and loss. And maybe, if you’re lucky, a sliver of hope.” Kot in this first issue bridged the 40 year gap between Nam and now by choosing scenes that move the story forward and give insight into his characters.
Lucas Casalanguida’s art adds to the gravitas of the story. Like the best comic artists Casalanguida hits the right blend of realism and exaggeration. I love his bold art in this issue. Check out that splash on page 12.
Heather Marie Lawrence Moore’s color choices enhance the mood of the story. I applaud her choices. She’s not afraid to back off color, use one bright color on a muted page or let her hues run like a watercolor. Awesome.
Lost Soldiers #1 is a winner.
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Bruce McCorkindale posted the Bruce Timm art above on his Twitter with this…
Bruce Timm graphically depicts all the “no-nos” when working on animated Batman. ♪ Bat-nos! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BAT-NOS!! ♫
Can you spot all the “no-nos”? I had trouble finding one, but eventually did locate all of ’em.
This is the cover to Reckless, the first of three new graphic novels coming from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips through Image Comics. Each of the graphic novels will be a complete separate standalone crime story. Here’s how Brubaker describes Reckless…
Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for a price.
A former student radical, with the scars to prove it, Ethan is one part repo man, one part private eye, and one part wrecking ball. But when a fugitive from his Weather Underground days reaches out for help, Ethan will have to face the only thing he really fears… his own past.
It’s sex, drugs, and murder in early ‘80s Los Angeles, as Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips launch their first graphic novel series with an electrifying new take on the paperback pulp hero.
Brubaker goes on to say that Reckless will be 144 pages, premiere in December with the second book scheduled for April 2021. Again, each of these books will be a completely standalone graphic novel. Man, this hits a bunch of my crime fiction sweet spots.
If you subscribe to Brubaker’s free newsletter you are able to see three pages from Reckless and they look wicked. If you don’t subscribe, you’ll definitely want to check out The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips to Launch Graphic Novel Series ‘Reckless‘.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood #2 is part of a six-issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Hunter Hale is on the run from Monk Sinclair, boss of everything underground in their county…at least until Bree Hale declares war on him to defend her brother.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood 2 picks up where issue one left off. The chase is on. Hunter Hale is scared and on the run with Monk Sinclair’s woman. Monk is following leads and growing more enraged with each passing moment. Bree (Hunter’s sister) doesn’t know what Hunter has gotten himself into, but she knows if she doesn’t reach him first, Hunter won’t live to tell her.
Justin Jordan, Benjamin Tiesma, Matt Lopes and Pat Brosseau are back with another great issue. And let’s not forget the cover by Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood continues with a story that should entertain all crime / action fans.
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Check out this sweet Rocky / Apollo poster created by Jarrod The Yardsale Artist Alberich and Mark Hatherley. Jarrod took on Rocky and Mark brought his talents to Apollo.
What makes this even cooler is that the created the art during one of their weekly Livestream sessions. They were joined by John Beatty (creating a commission for one of his fans). I also provided some color commentary for the video. I’ve embedded the video below, if you’re so inclined.
Also if you’re interested, Jarrod has made the Rocky / Apollo print available for fans!
Dia de los Muertos is a paperback that collects the three issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead, artist extraordinaire Riley Rossmo (Debris, Green Wake, Cowboy Ninja Viking) joins forces with nine different writers to tell tall tales from beyond the grave!
Riley Rossmo teams with 9 different writers to present 9 stories set against the backdrop of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. There is a supernatural undercurrent running through each tale.
It is interesting how Rossmo changes his art style to compliment each story being told. I enjoyed each of the tales, but I’d the standout for me was Mine by Joshua Williamson and Rossmo. It has a great set-up and leads the reader to a surprise ending. If you’re a fan of Rod Serling’s The Night Gallery, then you should like this collection.
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I’m not a big Red Sonja fan, but I am a Howard Chaykin fan. I especially like his take on Red Sonja shown above. If you dig it as well, you can click over to The Bristol Board to see a super-sized version.
Midnight of the Soul is a paperback that collects the five issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Joel Breakstone, a GI liberator of Buchenwald and brutally damaged goods, follows a path of vengeance that leads to redemption in a violent journey into his own heart of darkness―in a spiritual adventure from comics’ contemporary master of crime and punishment, HOWARD CHAYKIN.
Joel Breakstone is having a bad night. Of course every day and night since coming back from the war five years ago has been rough. Breakstone can’t shake the memory of an incident that nearly killed him. He and his buddy had come upon a Nazi about to execute a POW. A shootout occurred and when the smoke cleared his buddy, the POW and the Nazi were dead and Breakstone was severely wounded. He lived, but came home with a drinking problem.
But back to Breakstone’s bad night – After a bad argument with his wife, she leaves for work. Breakstone while looking for some booze finds evidence that his wife has been working as a hooker. Still half drunk, Breakstone grabs his gun and jumps on his motorcyle to find her.
His wife is with one of her best clients, a musician under contract to mobsters. Suddenly a man busts in and kills the musician. Breakstone’s wife barely escapes.
Breakstone is on the hunt for his wife. The killer and the cops are also looking for her. Before the night is over she will be found. Who will get to her first? And will it matter?
I’m a big fan of Howard Chaykin stories and art. Often Chaykin doesn’t hold back on the adult situations in his tales and this is one of those. If that’s offensive, this yarn isn’t for you.
Midnight of the Soul has a lot going on besides the hunt for Breakstone’s wife. There is also the mystery of why the musician was murdered. Plus Breakstone’s foggy memory of the incident that left 3 people dead and nearly killed him. All will be resolved before the night is over.
I like that the action takes place over the course of one night. As Breakstone tracks down his wife his journey takes him across the city to strip bars, diners, and jazz clubs. Along the way we meet a wide variety of characters some who are also looking for Breakstone’s wife.
Chaykin is at the top of his game with the art in Midnight of the Soul. Jesus Aburtov’s colors enhance the story without drawing attention to his work in a “look at these hues” sort of way. Often I think Chaykin’s art works best in black and white, but not this time! The story reminds me of an old movie with a modern sensibility (or an “R” rating). Chaykin’s heroes, or in this case, anithero, don’t always do the noble thing, but they do what is right for their character.
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That’s Rafael Grampá’s cover art to the first issue of BRZRKR coming to a comic shop near you this October.
Does the hero look a bit like Keanu Reeves? He should since Keanu is co-writing the 12 issue series with Matt Kindt. Artist Alessandro Vitti, colorist Bill Crabtree, and letterer Clem Robins will take care of the interior art. Here’s the synopsis for the series…
The man known only as Berzerker is half-mortal and half-God, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the world for centuries, Berzerker may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, Berzerker will be granted the one thing he desires – the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.
Click over to Boom Studios to learn more about the series, see more art and read what Keanu has to say!
