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Preview: Thunda Collection

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

Thunda Collection

W) Robert Place Napton, Gardner Fox

(A) Cliff Richards, Frank Frazetta

(CA) Jae Lee

After a military helicopter crashes in a remote valley in Africa, a lone survivor awakens without memory of his identity or mission. From the wreckage, he learns only his name: Roger Drum. Armed with instinctive survival skills, the amnesiac roams his new surroundings, discovering a bizarre lost world of dinosaurs, mammoths, sabretooth tigers, and primitive human tribes. Against the backdrop of this hostile new reality, Drum must come to terms with his violent past… so that he may assume the respected and feared mantle of the prophesied jungle warrior Thun’da!

Thun’da, the hero of the primeval forest created by legendary fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta, returns in this action-packed adventure by Robert Place Napton and Cliff Richards! As a special treat, Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents four classic tales of Thun’da, fully remastered and featuring the creative talents of comic legends Gardner Fox (Detective Comics, The Flash) and Frank Frazetta himself!

Thundacov

Review: Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Brett

SSQMWEDB_Cv1_A From the pages of Suicide Squad comes an all-new series featuring two of the team’s most infamous heroes, El Diablo and Boomerang! First, a sudden pardon frees the fiery El Diablo from Belle Reve prison, much to the shock (and irritation) of team leader Amanda Waller. Chato returns to his old neighborhood to reunite with his family, but when he’s attacked by a heavily armed local gang and their leader, the deadly, super-powered Bloodletter, will his freedom and his life get cut dramatically short?

Meanwhile, in the first chapter of two-part tale written by Michael Moreci (from DC’s Writers Workshop program) with art by Oscar Bazaldua, Boomerang and the Squad embark on a mission to take down a ruthless dictator within a small, unstable Central American nation, but when the mission goes awry, the Squad must jump in a helicopter and flee as all hell breaks loose. But amid the chaos, the team realizes one of them was accidentally left behind: Boomerang! How can he stay alive long enough to be rescued when a whole army wants him dead?

DC Comics has been putting various members of the Suicide Squad into the spotlight with a series of comics that give you a double feature. With this latest volume we get to learn more about El Diablo and Boomerang, two of the standouts from the Suicide Squad film. Suicide Squad: Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang is written by Michael Moreci and Jai Nitz with art by Oscar Bazaldua and Cliff Richards and it’s really entertaining with two solid stories that stand on their own.

El Diablo’s tale is handled by Nitz and Cliff Richards dives deep into the character’s background adding rich layers that’ll entertain those old and new to him. It’s a solid story that creates a sympathetic character that you want to cheer for. A bad guy with a moral code who can, and does, horrible things. This is the sympathetic gang member in many ways. Nitz also shakes things up quite a bit having El Diablo take a step away from the Suicide Squad, but what interaction he has with the group and Waller is impressive. The story had me engaged and wanting to see what happens next. It’s a step away from the Squad for the character that works really well.

Moreci and Bazaldua gives us the Boomerang story and casts the character in the light you’d expect. A lot of action, with a mix of humor, this is one we get to see Boomerang for what he really is, self-centered and out for himself in many ways. He’s not a team player as evidence here and not popular with his co-workers. The action is solid, the setting good, and while we’ve seen this type of story before, Moreci’s pacing and Bazaldua’s art makes it well worth the read.

A solid comic that kicks off in a much better way than the pervious volume featuring Deadshot and Katana. The pacing here is much better and each story really grabs you in their own ways. If you’re a fan of the characters or want to learn more about them, this is a must get.

Story: Michael Moreci, Jai Nitz Art: Oscar Bazaldua, Cliff Richards
Story: 7.9 Art: 7.95 Overall: 7.9 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1

Written by: Michael Moreci, Jai Nitz
Art by: Oscar Bazaldua, Cliff Richards
Covers Mike Huddleston

From the pages of SUICIDE SQUAD comes an all-new series featuring two of the team’s most infamous heroes, El Diablo and Boomerang! First, a sudden pardon frees the fiery El Diablo from Belle Reve prison, much to the shock (and irritation) of team leader Amanda Waller. Chato returns to his old neighborhood to reunite with his family, but when he’s attacked by a heavily armed local gang and their leader, the deadly, super-powered Bloodletter, will his freedom and his life get cut dramatically short?

SSQMWEDB_Cv1_A

Review: Batman/Superman #26

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

Superman enlists the help of Batgirl, Redhood, Dick Grayson, and Batman to protect a group of people forced to mine uranium for Vandal Savage. As the story unfold, Vandal’s intentions become more clear and more treacherous. Now, everyone must figure out how to stop the immortal Savage before his destructive plan begins.

Batman/Superman #26 mainly focuses on Superman and the repercussions from a previous fight he had with Vandal Savage. He was defeated and psychologically, he has not been able to recover. Superman’s struggle with who his is and who he was is the heart of the story. Writer Greg Pak, does a phenomenal job showing how far he has fallen. Those he is protecting at the camp still see him as a hero. They see him as a symbol of hope. He himself cannot see this though and it causes a great ideological dichotomy between the two views. The character interactions are also well done. Each heroes personality shines through and feels appropriate. The main issue with the story is the way Batman is presented. He does not arrive until midway through and immediately solves all of the mystery behind Vandal Savage’s plan. This goes in the face of Superman actually calling Batgirl a genius. By establishing her as a genius, it makes little sense that she could not have solved everything herself. He also makes Red Hood and Grayson look incompetent in the process during the climatic battle.

The art is consistently strong throughout. The action scenes are well paced and well designed. Each character model is distinct and unique in both look and emotional expression.There really isn’t a bad panel in the entire issue. Each page is very solid.

Overall, this issue is only meant to build towards an eventual battle with Vandal Savage. And, while there may be issues with Batman and how his portrayal effects others, the story is very entertaining. There are many quality character moments and Superman internal struggle makes this a very good read.

Story: Greg Pak Art: Ardian Syaf, Cliff Richards
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Read

Review: Lobo #7

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Brett

Cosmic speakeasies, intergalactic drug dens and even exotic alien women can’t distract can’t distract Lobo from his first love: hunting men for money! Once you’re on Lobo’s hit list, there are only two possible outcomes: your death or his.

I remember the fun that was DC Comics’ various Lobo mini-series. The art, and stories were over the top, they were just stupid fun. Flash forward to now, and we have a new Lobo, slimmer, more Gosling-esque, replacing the slobbering prior version. DC finally has their Wolverine (especially funny since Marvel doesn’t). He’s the best at what he does….

I read the first issue of the series, and thought it was ok. Not good, not bad, just a different version of Lobo. This issue references a lot of whats happened before, and has Lobo switching employers and killing lots of folks.

It feels a bit muddled, not a great starting point for a new reader. It clearly attempts to transition from whats happened in the previous six issues to what’s coming, so for folks who have been reading the series, maybe they’d dig it more than me. It does get me to want to see the next issue and where the series goes, because right now it has a Wolverine-redux vibe about it, and I know writer Cullen Bunn can kick-ass, so I do want to see where he goes from here, for at least a little bit.

Artist Cliff Richards brings the action with some very cool scenes of blood splattering carnage.

While there’s nothing necessarily bad about the issue, the concept and series feels like a throwback to a bygone era. DC’s moving forward, but this issue feels like a foot in the past.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Cliff Richards
Story: 6 Art: 7.25 Recommendation: Pass

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

DC Comics Spills More Details about Convergence

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Brett

Taking place in April and May 2015, Convergence is a massive two month publishing move for DC Comics that takes advantage of their multiverse to bring what hopefully is interesting stories. The company has revealed plans for their first ten releases, and have given some more insight into what we can expect for the next ten.

SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL

(Writer: Louise Simonson; Artist: June Brigman and Roy Richardson, with color by John Rauch)
Metropolis was taken when Superman was missing, so it’s up to Steel to guard the city from the heroes of GEN13 in his absence.

BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT

(Writer: Larry Hama; Artist: Philip Tan and Jason Paz, with color by Elmer Santos)
A year ago, Batman got trapped in Metropolis when hunting down Azrael. Now he must team with the man that replaced him, and see how differently they operate as Batmans.

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL

(Writer: Ron Marz; Artist: Mike Manley, with color by Sotocolor)
The levity of the JLI team collides with the severity of the world of Kingdom Come.

CATWOMAN

(Writer: Justin Gray; Artist: Ron Randall, with color by Gabe Eltaeb)
A year under the dome can change anyone, even Catwoman. She’s set aside her life of crime to become the protector of Suicide Slum, but when the dome falls she will face her greatest challenge—Kingdom Come Batman.

SUPERGIRL: MATRIX

(Writer: Keith Giffen; Artist: Ramon Bachs, with color by Hi-Fi)
What do Supergirl, Lady Quark, and Ambush Bug have in common? Well… nothing really. But that didn’t stop us from sticking them in a story together. You are SO welcome.

SUPERBOY

(Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Artist: Karl Moline and Jose Marzan Jr, with color by Hi-Fi)
Has Kon-El earned the right to be the man of steel? Kon will have to prove his mettle in battle against the Superman of Kingdom Come! But what if the only way to save Metropolis is to lose the fight?

AQUAMAN

(Writer: Tony Bedard; Artist: Cliff Richards, with color by John Rauch)
Trapped in the domed city, Aquaman struggles with the loss of his hand as he confronts a deadly adversary—Deathblow.

SUICIDE SQUAD

(Writer: Frank Tieri; Artist: Tom Mandrake, with color by Sian Mandrake)
When Kingdom Come’s floating fortress of New Oa threatens Metropolis, it’s up to Amanda Waller to put together a team of the city’s deadliest villains to stop it.

GREEN LANTERN/PARALLAX

(Writer: Tony Bedard; Artist: Ron Wagner and Bill Reinhold, with color by Paul Mounts)
Rookie Green Lantern Kyle Rayner gears up to battle invaders, but is he ready to fight Hal Jordan, also known as Parallax?

GREEN ARROW

(Writer: Christy Marx; Artist: Rags Morales and Claude St-Aubin, with color by Nei Ruffino)
Oliver Queen meets Connor Hawke for the first time, but is he ready to hand over the Green Arrow mantle to his son?

(via Blastr and HitFix)

Random

DC Reveals a New Lobo

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Brett

Over at the DC blog, DC Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras introduced a new Lobo to the New 52. In an odd twist:

Which is why Justice League #23.2: Lobo (from the creative team of Marguerite Bennett, Ben Oliver, Cliff Richards and Daniel Brown) contains a major surprise – one we’ve had planned for a while. The Lobo you’ve seen so far in the New 52 is not who you think he is. In this one-shot, you’ll be introduced to the real Lobo. A ruthless killer, Lobo is on a quest to kill the man who has taken his name.

This Lobo is equal parts strong, vicious, and driven. There’s a darker and more logical idea about what a force of nature like him is capable of. After all, this is someone who can infiltrate high society, fly a space ship, and adhere to a very specific moral code that’s not your typical anti-hero one. Oh, and, this one-shot takes place very far away from Earth. And when I say very far away, I mean it takes place literally on the other side of the galaxy.

The new look was updated by artist Kenneth Rocafort, who changed the main man into a “a lean, mean killing machine.”

Not a shocker, the announcement hasn’t gone over well online, but folks seem to forget the design they think of as Lobo now, isn’t what he always looked like.

What we think of when we think Lobo:

And what he looked like when he debuted. That’d be him in the purple and orange.

The main image below is the final design and check out the gallery for other rejected versions.

DC Comics Reveals Gatefold Cover for Suicide Squad #19

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Brett

When DC Comics solicited their comics for April, only the first side of each gatefold cover was shown. Well the time has finally come to start seeing what’s on the other half of these exciting pieces of art!

On Friday, we showed you the full cover for Batman #19. And this morning, we’ve got your first look at the cover for Suicide Squad #19, featuring a new leader for the team. But will the Squad survive this regime change?!

Check out below to see the cover and to see who has taken over as the leader of the Suicide Squad. Could this be the end of the Suicide Squad as we know it?

Thun’da Returns At Dynamite!

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Brett

THUN’DA RETURNS AT DYNAMITE!
IN COMIC STORES EVERYWHERE THIS COMING AUGUST!

May 17th, 2011, Runnemede, NJ – Thun’da makes his return to comic books this August from Dynamite! Written by Robert Place Napton with art by Cliff Richards and an INCREDIBLE cover by Jae Lee! As a bonus, this over-sized issue also includes the original first Thun’da story with fantastic art by the one-and-only Frank Frazetta at no extra cost! Be sure to pick up Thun’da #1 in August!

In August’s Thun’da #1, a Military helicopter crash lands in a remote valley in Africa. A lone survivor awakens with no memory of who he is or what he was doing there, but he’s wearing a uniform and is a skilled combatant. From the wreckage he learns only his name — ROGER DRUM. As he explores his new surroundings he is confronted by a bizarre lost world of dinosaurs and other strange creatures. Drum must learn to survive in this terrifying new reality while coming to terms with fragments of a past he isn’t sure he wants to remember.

“What excited me about THUN’DA is the aspects that differentiate him from other Jungle Lords,” says writer Robert Place Napton. “One of the coolest elements of the original story that we are expanding on as we move the character into the modern day is that he is a CIPHER — ROGER DRUM has amnesia as a result of his crash in Africa so the details of his past life are murky. He was like JASON BOURNE before there was JASON BOURNE, so we are picking up the baton on that aspect and taking it a step further. He has military training, he’s a bad ass, but instead of being pitted against other combatants he’s facing the dangers of a LOST WORLD so even with all his skill, he is facing challenges he’s not prepared for, with the added burden of being haunted by his past.”

“This project came as a gift to me,” adds artist Cliff Richards. “Since I was young reader, Frank Frazetta´s drawings always fascinated me. I couldn’t be happier about Thun’da and I bet the readers will love the book!”

“Robert Place Napton’s story will surely please all Thun’da fans everywhere,” says Dynamite President and Publisher Nick Barrucci. “The interior art by Cliff Richards is unbelievable in how much passion Cliff is pouring into every page. We don’t want to give away a lot yet, but these sketches by Cliff says a lot. And the Jae Lee cover is just amazing! And with a 48-page count sold at regular price, readers can also enjoy the first Thun’da story by Frank Frazetta!”

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About Dynamite Entertainment:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Shadow, The Boys, Green Hornet, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, Game of Thrones and more!

In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Avon Oeming, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Jae Lee, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent!

Dynamite recently won the Diamond Gem Award for Best Publisher Under 4% of market share for 2011!

DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles – including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s PROJECT SUPERPOWERS – have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. Several of their titles have also hit The New York Times Best-Sellers list: The Boys, Vampirella Archives, Robert Jordan’s New Spring and Wheel of Time graphic novels. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.