Book Review: THE REVELATORS by Quinn Colson

THE REVELATORS by Ace Atkins (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, July 2020) Hardcover, 400 pages. ISBN #0525539492 / 9780525539490 Quinn Colson series #10

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . .

In this gripping new crime novel from the New York Times-bestselling author, Quinn Colson is about to find out whether his quest for justice can coexist with his loyalty to the law...

Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he's walking again, eager to resume his work as a southern lawman and track down those responsible for his attempted murder. 

But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder. Vardaman sits at the top of the state's power structure--both legal and criminal--and little does he know, Quinn is still alive. And coming for him.

Quinn will enlist the help of his most trusted friends, including federal agent Jon Holliday, U.S. Marshal Lillie Virgil, and Donnie Varner, a childhood buddy now working for the Feds as an informant. Since Quinn's been gone, the criminal element in north Mississippi has flourished, with queenpin Fannie Hathcock enjoying unbridled freedom. As an ice storm bears down on north Mississippi and Memphis, and Tibbehah County is isolated from the outside world, the killers will return to finish the job.

But this time, Quinn Colson and company will be waiting, ready to bust apart a criminal empire running on a rigged system for far too long. This is the battle of Jericho, the epic showdown that's been years in the making. In the end, the war will end--for better or worse. 

My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . 

     This is the first novel by Ace Atkins that I've read, and it won't be the last. I had heard of his growing reputation as a writer of gritty crime fiction, and it is well-earned. 

     The sad and seamy side of low-rent life in the Deep South, particularly rural Mississipi really comes to life. Atkin's descriptive abilities and rich characterization are on display in fine form. 

     I'll definitely read more of his novels featuring sheriff Quinn Colson. I was reminded of both the Walking Tall films and the Justified television series in both content and atmosphere. 

     I don't need to get into plot details as the Goodreads summary has done a bang-up job of it.

AFTERSHOCK Introduces New YA Imprint This August = SEISMIC PRESS

MARCH 30, 2021

Introducing SEISMIC PRESS Since the establishment of AfterShock a little over 5 years ago, we've been pleased to bring you the works of some of the most original top creative talents and up-and-coming storytellers. Be it horror, crime, fantasy, suspense, science fiction, historical fiction, action and adventure, AfterShock’s mission has always been to push readers out of their comfort zones and defy expectations. Sometimes the stories creators pitch to us are really meant for readers in the 12-18 age range – a category the book folk call Young Adult or YA. Yet, most AfterShock titles are written and illustrated for more “mature” audiences. Thus the opportunity for SEISMIC PRESS, announced earlier this week via Publishers Weekly. Now, creators who have stories of a certain quality, intelligence and intensity to tell to a younger audience have a place to tell them in the ways they want them told. The first Seismic Press graphic novel, Steve Orlando and Steve Foxe’s RAINBOW BRIDGE, will be released in August. Illustrated by Valentina Brancati, it tells the story of 14-year-old Andy and his rescue dog, Rocket. When Rocket dies just before high school begins, Andy finds himself rudderless, but during a visit to Rocket’s grave, he unexpectedly summons the Rainbow Bridge, a gateway to a fantasy world where pets discover their afterlife – and a malevolent menace awaits. Come summer, there’s going to be a whole lot of shaking going on! HERE’S WHAT’S SHAKING THIS WEEK AT YOUR COMIC SHOP

NUCLEAR FAMILY #2 Writer: Stephanie Phillips Artist: Tony Shasteen When the Big One dropped on their house in 1957 the Cold War turned hot for the McClean family. Forced to contend with the literal fallout in a Wisconsin suffering from nuclear winter, where almost all civilization has been wiped from the map, the McCleans now have to wonder, is the year still 1957, or has something more shocking happened? AT SHOPS: MARCH 31st CLICK HERE FOR THE MONKEYS FIGHTING ROBOTS PREVIEW

I BREATHED A BODY #3 Writer: Zac Thompson Artist: Andy MacDonald A science fiction horror series about social media, big tech and influencer culture. Grisly livestreams descend into utter perversion, proving to the world there are fates worse than death. As Anne architects a social media campaign of looming dread, she begins to doubt her actions and fear her co-workers. Locked in a terror-shrouded fortress of her own design, with nowhere left to run, Anne confronts the fury of a Fungal God long thought dead. AT SHOPS: MARCH 31st

ANIMOSITY: YEAR THREE One day, the Animals woke up... The Animals rest and consider their path. Where have they come from? Where can they go? When they were taken from the wild, how did their fates change humanity forever? What will they become? From creator/writer Marguerite Bennett(INSEXTS, DC Comics Bombshells, Batwoman) with artwork by Rafael De Latorre(SUPERZERO) and Elton Thomasi, this 216-page hardcover volume features the entire third year of AfterShock's flagship title, issues #19-28. “...a classic series that will be remembered for years to come.” – David Gladman, Big Comic Page AT SHOPS: APRIL 21st FAST APPROACHING! Reserve Now at your Local Comic Shop. Click Covers for Previews! SHADOW DOCTOR #3 IN SHOPS: April 28th Writer: Peter Calloway Artist: Georges Jeanty Cover Artist: Mark Chiarello The past wasn’t always so black and white. Order Deadline: April 5th Order Code: FEB210988 EDEN Prestige Format One-Shock IN SHOPS: May 5th Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Dalibor Talajić Love can leave a lasting impression. Order Deadline: April 12th Order Code: MAR211002

Biographical Comics Series Features The DOLLY PARTON Story

DOLLY PARTON'S LIFE STORY GETS THE COMIC BOOK TREATMENT THIS WEEK: FIRST LOOK

Information and cover images courtesy of TidalWave Productions 

TidalWave Comics is proud to announce the addition of Dolly Parton comic book to its popular “Female Force” series focused on women who make an impact around the world.  “Female Force: Dolly Parton” will be release on March 31st.  

Written by Michael Frizell, art by Ramon Salas, this 22-page comic book is available both digitally and in print and can be found on multiple platforms. A hard cover edition will be offered with cover by famed comic book artist Dave Ryan.  There will also be five collectible retailer exclusive covers. 

                                

The woman famous for proclaiming, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,” has proven to be a powerhouse singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist. The ascent of country music superstar Dolly Parton from modest means to the most honored female country performer of all-time is empowering and inspirational.

 

"We've found a niche with our bio comics," said TidalWave publisher Darren G.  Davis. "Our success with this comic shows that there is a much wider audience for sequential storytelling than many have thought. These readers are simply looking for something other than superheroes. With our bio comics, we strive to bring these new readers evenhanded, well-researched looks at some of their favorite celebrities."

Writer Michael Frizell, an educator at Missouri State University in Springfield, “Writing about Dolly was a joy. I’m thrilled with the expressive way the artist visualized the pages. The book feels timeless.  Her creativity, philanthropy, and humanity are legendary.”

 

The “Female Force” imprint features prominent and influential authors, business executives, entertainers, journalists, politicians, and activists. The latest biography comic book joins TidalWave’s ever-growing library of more than 200 comic book biographies.  — Previous titles have profiled Mother Teresa, Kamala Harris, Tina Fey, Betty White, Michelle Obama, Barbra Streisand to Cher and Gloria Steinem. These biographical comics, written by some of the most talented writers in the comic world and beyond, deliver an informed and illustrated look into the lives of these figures.

 

The biographical comic series has drawn a firestorm of media attention, including features on “The Today Show” CNN, MSNBC and FOX News, and in Time and People magazines. 

 

TidalWave Comics vast catalog of titles can also be downloaded digitally from Kindle, iTunes, EPIC!, Madefire, Izneo, ComiXology, Global Comics, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, Overdrive, Library Pass, Biblioboard, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

MANGA REVIEW: Matt Lowder Gets Into BESERK

BERSERK Volume 1 + 2 (of 39, Dark Horse Manga, originally 1989 and 1990, this English printing translated 2003 and 2004)

All right, let's talk about manga! There are statistics and data to backup the fact that manga is continuing to take a greater and greater piece of the market. This is true in libraries, bookshops, Amazon sales, in some comic stores. The argument?? More bang for your buck in so far as cost-to-page-count, with very consistent art in story by the same team or in some cases one person.

I was listening to some Podcast recently talking about this very phenomenon. The decline in sales of the classic Western style single issue comic. The stigma in the United States is still, even after all these years, that people who read comics and manga are oddballs. Comics are for children. Meanwhile many countries in Asia and Europe, no one bats an eye. Culturally, those countries have every genre of manga for every age group, most everyone reads 'em, and in their mass-public-transit society, it has been easier to take hold there for 3 decades. These little books are sold everywhere like packs of gum over there.

My own relationship and journey with manga is pretty subdued. I grew up watching Dragonball Z on TV after school. I played some Final Fantasy on PS2 in high school. In college I read my first manga (which were Full Metal Alchemist and then Death Note). But I didn't really take to it. I dodged Pokemon. I wasn't ever a fan of the stuff like Poyo, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service. It just wasn't my joint.

I did however, two years ago, watch the Castlevania animated show on Netflix and I loved it. Brutal horror action. Delicious. And then my brother gave me the first 13 books of this BESERK at 220 pages each. Which have sat in my house for almost two years. Yesterday I read the first two books after listening to the podcast.

What do I think? Have my tastes regarding manga changed from indifference to something more?

I really had fun reading these.

Generally speaking, if you like the epic journey of the hero, the one that feels like a myth, the one that feels like a legend, try this. This book is probably for you if you already enjoy Japanese culture or dark fantasy action and terror. It is very mature. Disturbing, cynical, and hateful. If you like Ronin-style Kirosawa films with a solitary, unlikable, complex protagonist, and if you like dismemberment and very bizarre sickening demons, BERSERK is a 1989 staple I've come to respect greatly. It's mentioned often as a Top 20 most important or influential manga among manga readers. No serious manga reader hasn't heard of it. And it's definitely insane.

Set in a medieval Europe-inspired dark fantasy world, the story centers on the characters of Guts, yes, his name is GUTS, a lone mercenary who is shitty toward everyone, even a little elf pixie that follows him around as comic relief. GUTS is cursed, but how remains a mystery in these first two books. He has a symbol carved into his neck which damns him to hell, makes ghouls and demons aware of his presence... but not before he get revenge with his seven-foot sword. He has one arm, one eye, and on his missing arm he can affix a prosthetic metal arm contraption with rapid fire launching bolts.

BESERK is gory slaughter-fest escapism, which reveals its layers as you read about the town, other characters, the magic, the curses, and the strange "big-bad" that eats women and children who lives in Koka Castle and looks like a disgusting toad man that has tentacles coming out all over the place when he wants. 

Black and gray is done very well, with some pointless use of ellipses and some muddy unreadable action in one particular fight in Volume One, but other that that, it's addicting. It is truly unsettling artwork. 

One last issue I have with the comic is the artistic interpretation of the elf pixie bug. It is clearly a nude prepubescent boy in style, and it is often getting its butt flicked by Guts or is in suggestive poses sticking its butt out and arching its back. Could just be I'm American and overanalyzing. I don't know if that's a Freudian sexuality thing between Japanese audiences versus American audiences, but it is something that has pervaded all kinds of Japanese art in my experience. Some people might be turned off by it.

But I can't wait for Volume Three, and I "don't like manga."

Have you read this? My Hero Academia? Tokyo Ghoul? One Piece? What's hot in manga "now"?

Four out of a possible Five Stars.

Dave Wrighteous Writes Some Super-Reviews

Guest reviews by The 10,000 Comics Pryamid's DAVE WRIGHTEOUS . . . . .

 

Some 2021 DC Comics, all recent releases . . . . . .

Infinite Frontier #0- After establishing if Future State was really the future with a "Maybe? Could be? Who knows!" the Spectre, now part of The Quintessence (a group of super cosmic-y beings playing Uatu The Watcher for DC) joins Wonder Woman for a stroll thru the DCU, setting up snippets of what's to come in later titles by focusing on individual characters/teams written/drawn by various teams. 

Given the variety, it's uneven, but generally not bad, even though this latest overhaul just doesn't stir excitement for me. Grade B-

Superman #29, Action Comics #1029- Radiation from a breach in space proves deadly to Superman, panicking Jon Kent who's seen the future and knows this might not end well for Dad. And what's Amanda Waller's part in this? 

A slow start for a new creative team made worse for me by DC's relentless pushing of Jon as a new Superman. I like Clark, that's why I read Action/Superman, but SuperKid? Give him his own title to star in! I liked him when he first arrived with no powers.

It was an interesting new dynamic to Lois and Clark, but now it's like the DC brass said "Y'know how powers and time travel made Franklin Richards such a confusing, unappealing mess? Let's do that with Jonathan, but instead of taking 30 years like Marvel did, let's do all that in 3!" Grade C+

Superman Red and Blue #1- I'll probably catch hell for this review, but w/e, I'm speaking my opinion and YMMV . 

Superman's place as an iconic fictional hero is unparalleled. He is universally known to everyone and stands as an archetype of heroism, selflessness and hope. The assorted tales here swing for the fences in that regard, but for me fell short, trying SO HARD to be meaningful and poignant, but sadly coming off as maudlin pap at best, virtue signaling at worst. 

One tale has Superman going to a woman's funeral, only to be guilt tripped by her son who tells Supes he disappointed him by not responding to a letter he sent asking for help when he discovers his mom is an addict. Wait, so that was SUPERMAN'S FAULT?!? Drug abuse has been dealt with smartly in comics before, but this was absurd.

Look, I'm not a cynic saying these types of stories shouldn't be told, but for God's sake do them WELL ala Paul Dini's BRILLIANT Superman: Peace on Earth. Grade C-

Sheesh...sorry to be so negative in my reviews lately, but I'm striking out with new stuff. Don't worry, I'm rereading a classic and the sun will shine again soon..

Comics Review: NAMELESS by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

NAMELESS by Grant Morrison, writer and Chris Burnham, artist (Image Comics, March 2016) Hardcover, 192 pages. ISBN # 1632155273 / 9781632155276 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

Nameless tells the story of a down-at-heel occult hustler known only as "Nameless" who is recruited by a consortium of billionaire futurists as part of a desperate mission to save the world. A massive asteroid named Xibalba — the "Place of Fear" in Mayan mythology — is on collision course with the planet Earth. 

If that wasn't trouble enough, the asteroid has an enormous magical symbol carved into its side and is revealed to be a fragment of our solar system's lost fifth planet, Marduk, destroyed sixty-five million years ago at the end of an epic cosmic war between the inhabitants of Marduk and immensely powerful, life-hating, extra-dimensional "gods." 

One of those beings is still alive, imprisoned on Xibalba, dreaming of its ultimate revenge on all that exists. When Nameless and his teammates inadvertently unleash this malignant soul-destroying intelligence, the stage is set for a nightmarish, nihilistic journey to the outer reaches of human terror. 

My Three-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

    I read this as part of a monthly book club (Zoom meeting) with Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware. NAMELESS is a book that incorporates so many genres and mythologies into the mix that it is difficult to describe, but it was fun to think of "elevator pitches" to encapsulate the essence in a quick sentence with references that listeners could understand . . . .

"The Exorcist meets Apollo 13" - - - John Carpenter's "In The Mouth OF Madness" meets "Event Horizon". I had heard a rumor that Morrison was jealous of the commercial success of fellows Mark Millar and Garth Ennis - - so he wrote HAPPY in their styles. With that in mind, I postulated that Morrison also wanted to obtain some film royalties like his counterparts, so that NAMELESS is nothing more than the rejected draft of a screenplay for the movie "Armageddon". 

     The story in NAMELESS centers around the efforts to divert the path of an asteroid hurtling towards Earth. The asteroid is a prison for a godlike being, and the group of astronauts who land on the asteroid release this dark entity. 

     There's a whole lot more than just that going on: a non-linear narrative style; dreamworlds and nightmare-scapes; Mayan, Polynesian, Egyptian, and Sumerian mythologies; occult theories; nihilism, etc. Morrison is a self-described chaos magician, and it seems like he threw everything that interests him into the mix. 

     The art by Chris Burnham is really something to behold, incorporating imaginative use of panel placement and colors, intricate detail, panoramic views, and some truly horrifying and bloody images vivid enough to cause nightmares. If you admire the art styles of Frank Quitely, Geoff Darrow, and Steve Skroce you will enjoy the work of Burnham. 

     NAMELESS might have been scarier for me if it wasn't so confusing. I love the imagery and imagination on display here but it seems like the creative team tried to jam way too much, with too many esoteric references in the mix - - resulting in a clusterf*ck of a story. I actually enjoy when authors challenge readers, but not to this extent. 

     The trade paperback edition does include an extensive afterword by Morrison that attempts to detail all his influences and references chapter by chapter, but there's so much detail crammed in here it causes heads to spin and overwhelms. 

     I would rate this 3.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't accept fractions.

Comics Review: RAI, BOOK TWO

RAI BOOK TWO Dan Abnett, writer. Juan Jose Ryp, art. (Valiant Entertainment, February 2021) Trade paperback, 128 pages. ISBN # 1682153908 / 9781682153901 Collecting RAI #6-#10 (2019-2020)

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

ENTER “WILD FRONTIERS”! 

Rai and Raijin’s quest to stop Father’s plan to recreate his dominion continues! Down in the post-apocalyptic wilds of Earth they’ll encounter a dizzying array of people and places like none ever conceived in the sleek technological utopia of New Japan they once called home.

 

My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

I read this in the single issues. 

     Before this series began writer Matt Kindt resurrected Rai, the oft-neglected original Valiant character, in the 4,000 AD series of crossover stories. Dan Abnett picked up the torch after that and took the series in a whole new and exciting direction.

     Abnett picks up where he left off in Book One and continues to build and develop this new world further - - the remnants of civilization on Earth 4000 AD after New Japan falls from orbit and crashes into the planet. 

     The reason for that crash was the actions of Rai, the former enforcer of Father on New Japan, when he partnered with outside rebellious forces to bring down the authoritarian rule of Father. Now, Rai and Raijin, his boyish prodigy/companion, seek out the Offspring of Father to prevent a resurgence of his reign. Father is now referred to as Bloodfather in a bit of foreshadowing, as this second volume reveals the existence of and entrapped Bloodshot in a digital/virtual world of sorts. 

     The art alone is worth the price of admission. Juan Jose Ryp's details are stunning, and the colors of Andrew Dalhouse enhance the intricacy.

     The remnants of the robotic (here called positronic) Roman forces from New Japan attempt to establish Romanus among the ruins, and need Rai's assistance to hold off advancing monstrous forces. Meanwhile over in the more computer-based dwellings of Hinansho Town the tech-savant Spylocke tries to conceal her data mining efforts from the notice of Bloodfather. 

     Rai and Raijin pick up a female human companion along the way, and this opens the door for some human versus robots conflict when they visit the advanced robot settlement of New Ur and encounter some positronic prejudice towards humans. The interactions of the characters are interesting, especially the conversations between Raijin and Alice, and allow Abnett to inject some subtle social commentary. 

     The final issue/chapter here ends on a cliffhanger, alluding to the potential introduction of yet another older Valiant character (this one a villain) into the storyline. 

     Book Two was very entertaining, less episodic that Book One. I'm looking forward to seeing more new stories of Rai in 2021.