Cobra Kai: the Karate Kid Saga Continues Vol. 1
(W) Denton J. Tipton (A/CA) Kagan McLeod
In Shops: Jul 08, 2020
SRP: $15.99
Is Johnny really the good guy? See The Karate Kid in a whole new light this June in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament Champion.
It’s a new week and we’ve got lots coming at you. While you wait for that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
Newsarama – Dynamite’s Nick Barrucci Decries ‘Cancel Culture’ and ‘Retail Minority That are Loud & Equivalent of Keyboard Cops’ in ComicsPRO Keynote – An interesting read.
NBC – Minnesota’s only black-owned comic book store celebrates black history year-round – Go check out this shop!
Live Law – How A Footballer Turned Lawyer Created A Graphic Novel For Legal Awareness? – There’s been some “legal” comics and graphic novels but it’s a space that has the potential to grow.
CBLDF – CBLDF Launches Rory D. Root Comics Ambassador Grant To Support Retailer Programs Celebrating Free Expression – This is fantastic to see.
Reviews
Talking Comics – Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P.
Comic Attack – Bitter Root #6
ICv2 – Churchill: A Graphic Biography
AIPT – Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #3
Comics Bulletin – Hellblazer #27
CBR – Tomorrow #1
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #3 (of 4)
(W) Denton J. Tipton (A/CA) Kagan McLeod
In Shops: Feb 19, 2020
SRP: $3.99
“Johnny’s Story,” Part Three. See The Karate Kid in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament champion.
The gauntlet has been thrown, and Johnny trains to win the tournament-and his ex-girlfriend’s heart.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #2 (of 4)
(W) Denton J. Tipton (A/CA) Kagan McLeod
In Shops: Nov 27, 2019
SRP: $3.99
“JOHNNY’S STORY,” Part 2! See The Karate Kid in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament champion.
The new kid continues to make moves on Johnny’s girl, and takes the rivalry to a new level with a lowdown prank at the Halloween dance. Will Johnny get his revenge?
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #1 is a comic I’ve been looking forward to since it was announced. The idea of seeing the original Karate Kid film from Johnny Lawrence’s perspective is an interesting one. That becomes more so with the recent Cobra Kai digital series and the concept that Johnny wasn’t really the bad guy of the film.
As a first issue, the comic is interesting. Writer Denton J. Tipton frames the story as Johnny telling it to his new students, the comic begins early in his life. There’s abuse there and that’s not unexpected. It also is handled as an adult in a way that seems realistic for a guy his age and the era he grew up in.
From there we get some of the lead up to his introduction in Karate Kid. There’s some history as to him and the tournaments. His meeting Ali. Why the broke up. And then ending where his role in the film begins on the beach. It’s an interesting comic that builds to the expectation. And in that way it succeeds.
I fully expected Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #1 to be more like the end of the comic but instead, it veers in the beginning then leads the reader to where it thought it was going to start. It defies expectations, gets you to accept that, then dovetails into expectations in a good way.
The art is where the comic fails. The characters look awful. Kagan McLeod just doesn’t capture the look of the actors well and mixed with a weird lack of detail along with odd detail it falls apart. Eyes are strange, faces bland, and designs that at times look like something you’d get by a Boardwalk artist.
The comic delivers potential. It’s the build-up to the story we know from the film but doesn’t quite deliver that yet. Instead, it focuses on Johnny the person adds some depth to him and shows us where he’s coming from. Now, we can get to the interesting stuff we all came for to start.
Story: Denton J. Tipton Art: Kagan McLeod
Color: Luis Antonio Delgado Letterer: Neil Uyetake
Story: 7.0 Art: 5.0 Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read
IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Batman’s Grave #1 (DC Comics) – Warren Ellis takes on Batman with Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowland on art.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #1 (IDW Publishing) – The original Karate Kid is told from Johnny’s perspective. Sounds entertaining to us as we’re fans of the film series.
Dead Legends Premier Edition #1 (A Wave Blue World) – The publisher is putting out premier editions of their comics which then switch to digital releases or a trade after. We’re intrigued if this new release method works and if this first issue would get us interested in continuing with that sort of release.
Ginseng Roots #1 (Uncivilized Books) – Craig Thompson recounts his life of harvesting ginseng from ages 10 to 20.
Hellmouth #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Angel and Buffy crossover in an event that already is selling out!
Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity #1 (DC Comics) – The latest DC Black Label comics is another Joker/Harley Quinn story and we’re intrigued how, and if, this one will be original to stand out.
RWBY #1 (DC Comics) – The popular anime gets a series from DC. How this will differ from the manga already released will be interesting.
Powers of X #6 (Marvel) – Jonathan Hickman’s new direction for the X-Universe wraps up.
Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated #1 (AfterShock) – The largest retailer in the world requires the best loss prevention staff and they defend things at any and all costs.
Smedley (Dead Reckoning) – The graphic novel is a solid introduction to the military hero and his rather interesting life of service and advocacy.
Spawn #301 (Image Comics) – The comic breaks a record for ongoing superhero series with this issue and that history-making fact is why it’s on our list.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #1 (of 4)
(W) Denton J. Tipton (A/CA) Kagan McLeod
In Shops: Oct 09, 2019
SRP: $3.99
“JOHNNY’S STORY,” Part 1. See The Karate Kid in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament Champion. When the new kid makes moves on the girl that broke Johnny’s heart, he vows to settle the score and win back her love. Or so goes the story Sensei Lawrence tells his students nearly 35 years later. Written by Denton J. Tipton (X-Files) and illustrated by Kagan McLeod (Infinite Kung Fu). Based on the hit YouTube Original series Cobra Kai!
IDW Publishing brings the lifelong rivalry between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence out of the dojo and into comic book stores with an all-new Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues miniseries, slated for release in Fall 2019.
In collaboration with Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, IDW will develop new stories set within the continuity of the YouTube Premium original series, based on iconic characters from the cultural touchstone Karate Kid film series.
The Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues comic book series will be written by Denton J. Tipton and illustrated by Kagan McLeod. The first issue, slated to debut in October, will feature cover artwork by McLeod, as well as photos of the beloved cast and other iconic surprises.
Starting with “Johnny’s Story” Part 1 (of 4) in October, readers will see The Karate Kid movie in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament champion. When the new kid makes moves on the girl that broke Johnny’s heart, he vows to settle the score and win back his love… or so goes the story Sensei Lawrence tells his students nearly 35 years later.
