Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Comics Review: "DEJAH THORIS Versus JOHN CARTER #6" is an Excellent Last Issue

DEJAH THORIS VERSUS JOHN CARTER, VOL. 1 #6
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Dan Abnett
ART: Alessandro Miracolo and Vincenzo Carratu
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lucio Parrillo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Alessandro Miracolo; Max Fiumara; Sebastian Fiumara; Lucio Parrillo; cosplay by Rachel Hollon
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Edgar Rice Burroughs


Dejah Thoris and John Carter are characters 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.

Dejah was the title character of A Princess of Mars, the princess of the Martian city-state/empire of Helium.  John Carter was a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who was transported to Mars via “astral projection” where he got a new body that was similar to the one he left behind on Earth.  John made several trips back and forth between Earth and Barsoom, and Dejah and John were married and had two children.

John Carter first appeared in comic books in the early 1950s, and Dejah has become a prominent comic book character since 2010 via Dynamite Entertainment.  Now, the star-crossed lovers are the stars of Dynamite's new comic book, Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter.  The series is written by Dan Abnett; drawn by Alessandro Miracolo with Vincenzo Carratu; colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series finds Dejah and John caught in a war to save Mars from an ancient race, “The Longborn,” that has returned to reclaim the planet, and their surprising ally, the rogue scientist, Rotak Gall.

Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter #6 opens at the time-lost ruined palace of Dar Shadeth, in the mountains of Caldium, far in the distant west.  On the orders of Dejah Thoris, the “Holy Thern,” Kantos Kan, prepares to level the ancient ruins using radium bombs.  This will forever trap the threat of Longborn, but it will also trap Dejah and John Carter … who could both already be dead.

However, in the laboratory of the evil mastermind, Rotak Gall, Carter is alive and well and is desperately battling the Longborn.  Meanwhile, Dejah and Rotak are battling a crazed clone of … John Carter!  Can our heroes save Barsoom (Mars) and themselves?

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter #6, the sixth issue of the series that I have read and only the sixth Dejah Thoris or John Carter comic book I have read.

Issue #6 is the final issue of Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter, and writer Dan Abnett offers a slam bang ending that spans time and space.  I have to admit that I don't want this series to end because it is simply such a fun read.  Abnett's blend of sword and sorcery and pulp science fiction works in ways that I didn't think it would.

Artist Alessandro Miracolo and colorist Dearbhla Kelly translate Abnett's script into explosive comic book storytelling that not only got stronger with each issue, but always seemed to jump off the page.  Simon Bowland's lettering rings in the new year with fonts that will leave your imagination's ears ringing from this epic ending.

The ending of Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter invites the possibility of a fun follow-up that will be full of mystery and new things.  In the meantime, enjoy this, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dynamite's Dejah Thoris and Barsoom comic books will want to read Dejah Thoris Versus John Carter.

A

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


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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, January 3, 2022

Comics Review: RED SONJA Volume 6 #5

RED SONJA VOLUME 6 #5
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Mirka Andolfo and Luca Blengino
ART: Giuseppe Cafaro with Salvatore Cuffari, Valentina Pinti, Francesco Paciaroni, Nathan Ramirez, Chiara Di Francia, Giovanna La Pietra, Fausto Michelotti
COLORS: Chiara Di Francia with Nicolo Laporini, Gianluca Papi, Francesco Carotenuto
LETTERS: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Mirka Andolfo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Erica D'Urso; Roberto Castro; Leslie Leirix; Ken Haeser; Mirka Andolfo; Tabitha Lyons (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Robert E. Howard

“Mother” Chapter Five


Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) saw the debut of a high fantasy, sword and sorcery heroine, Red Sonja.  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.

Red Sonja remained a fixture in comic books from then until about 1986.  There have been several ongoing Red Sonja comic book series, and the latest, Red Sonja Volume 6, is under the guidance of popular Italian comic book creator, Mirka Andolfo.  It is written by Andolfo and Luca Blengino; drawn by Giuseppe Cafaro; colored by Chiara Di Francia; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  In this new series, Red Sonja accepts the bounty to bring a girl named “Sitha” to a broker who will send her to her true home.  The girl, however, becomes attached to Sonja and calls her mother.

Red Sonja Volume 6 #5 opens in the mountains between Britunia and Hyperborea at the edifice known as the “Mad King's Fortress.”  There, Red Sonja and her companions, Samosh the warrior and Setubia the old sorcerer, struggle to free Sitha from the influences of “Xamul,” the demigoddess of fire, wind, and fury that resides in her.

Now, Sonja and Sitha must go east, beyond the Vilayet Sea.  Between the foothills of the mountains of Kithai is a village, and there, only a priestess of Xamul can free Sitha, the “Daughter of Fire,” from Xamul.  But it is a place that only women can access, and first, they must face “the First Law.”

THE LOWDOWN:   In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Red Sonja Volume 6 #5, which is the latest of several Dynamite Entertainment Red Sonja comic books that I have read.  This is also only the seventh issue of a Mirka Andolfo comic book that I have read.

Andolfo and Luca Blengino continue their epic story of sword and sorcery, which is also a mother and her daughter story (of sorts).  The writers offer big changes and move the story to new strange, faraway lands.  It is pure sword and sorcery and Robert E. Howard.

In issue #5, a bevy of artists and colorist unveil this story to readers, and they catch all of the epic scope of what Andolfo and Blengino are spinning for readers.  They don't miss a beat, and this Red Sonja series, with its offbeat notes, continues to be a winner.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja and of Mirka Andolfo will want to try Red Sonja Volume 6.

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 syndication rights and fees.

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BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 5, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

NOV210755 BASILISK #6 CVR A SCHARF $3.99
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Dark Horse Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 5, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN210381 ART OF OVERWATCH HC LTD ED VOL 02 (C: 0-1-2) $99.99
SEP210304 EC ARCHIVES WEIRD SCIENCE TP VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

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Dynamite Entertainment Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 5, 2022

DYNAMITE

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IDW Publishing Shipping from Diamond Distributors for January 5, 2022

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR210451 LOEG VOL IV TEMPEST TP (C: 0-1-2) $19.99
NOV210450 STAR TREK MIRROR WAR #3 (OF 8) CVR A WOODWARD $3.99
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NOV210461 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF OPTIMUS PRIME $6.99

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IMAGE COMICS

NOV210255 A THING CALLED TRUTH #3 (OF 5) CVR A ROMBOLI $3.99
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NOV210257 A THING CALLED TRUTH #3 (OF 5) CVR C ZANFARDINO & ROMBOLI $3.99
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