Tag Archives: tom luth

Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier’s Space Circus gets collected for the first time

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Dark Horse Books presents Space Circus, the classic sci-fi adventure story from the Eisner Award-winning creators of Groo, Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier. This hardcover will collect issues #1-4 of Space Circus—illustrated by Aragonés, written by Evanier, colored by Tom Luth, and lettered by Stan Sakai—for the first time. The collection will also feature a brand-new cover from Aragonés and Luth.

Once upon a time, kids used to dream of running away to join the circus and travel the world, but now that’s out of date. Young Todd Cooper has a new dream: Run away and join the Doodah Brothers’ Astral Traveling Entertainment and Fun Brigade, traveling from planet to planet with its incredible cast of Greebles, Flurps, Bearded Plankton, and Klone-Klowns—and avoiding the deadly Sky-Pirates!

Space Circus (hardcover, 112 pages, 7.75×11”) will be available in bookstores on December 10, 2024 and in comic shops on December 11, 2024. It is now available to preorder from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, TFAW, your local comic shop and bookstore for $29.99.

Space Circus

Around the Tubes

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It’s new comic book day! What are you all getting? What are you excited for? Sound off in the comments. While you wait for shops to open, here’s some comic news and a review from around the web.

Book Riot – The Top 10 Summer Manga To Pack In Your Beach Bag – What would you add to the list?

ICv2 – R.I.P. Tom Luth – Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.

Reviews

Comicbook – The Ultimates #1

The Ultimates #1

Sergio Aragonés Louder Than Words, Actions Speak in July

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Dark Horse Books presents Louder Than Words, Actions Speak, a new collection gathering two Sergio Aragonés series, Louder Than Words and Actions Speak, together for the first time. Written and illustrated by Aragonés, this hardcover volume collects issues #1-6 of both series and includes new cover art by Aragonés, colored by Carrie Strachan, with all original series covers colored by Tom Luth.  

Louder Than Words, Actions Speak is a journey into the best gag strips of the previous and current century! In the playful, energetic style that made Aragonés famous and MAD Magazine funny, this collection is a must-have for anyone who has ever even chuckled. Sergio Aragonés proves time and time again that a picture may paint a thousand words, but one well-delivered gag is good for a million laughs.

Louder Than Words, Actions Speak (320 pages,7.75” x 11”, hardcover) arrives in bookstores on July 16, 2024 and in comic shops on July 17, 2024. It is now available to preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local comic shops, and indie bookstores for $49.99.

Louder Than Words, Actions Speak

Celebrate 40 years of Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo with the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader

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The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo, Stan Sakai’s award-winning artistic and storytelling epic featuring everyone’s favorite rabbit ronin! Dark Horse Comics and Dogu Publishing invite readers on a journey through the series in the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader. This new collection of stories presents a selection of hand-picked Usagi tales in color for the first time from Emi Fujii, Tom Luth, and Ronda Pattison. The new cover art is painted by Stan Sakai himself, adding to the appeal for collectors.

This new paperback collection presents eight fan-favorite and Stan-Sakai-selected short stories, including the fan-favorite short story “Chanoyu,” which is appearing for the first time in color! Other stories include “A Mother’s Love,” “Blade of the Gods,” “The Way of the Samurai,” “Cut the Plum,” “The Artist,” “Buntori,” and “Adachi”. Readers are invited to follow Miyamoto Usagi through four decades of comic creativity and adventure. Relive the essential moments of Usagi Yojimbo or invite a new love of Sakai’s worldbuilding into your life or the life of someone you love.

Wish Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo a wonderful anniversary when Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader arrives in trade paperback on bookstore shelves on June 18, 2024, and comic shops on June 19, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $14.99. 

Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader

Review: Groo Meets Tarzan #1

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Groo Meets Tarzan #1

Groo Meets Tarzan is something I never knew I needed until I read it. I’ve read loads of Groo The Wanderer comics growing up but it’s been quite a while since I read any adventures of the cheese dip-loving idiot swordsman and his faithful dog, Rufferto. And by that same line, I’ve never read a Tarzan story. Never Ever.

Groo Meets Tarzan #1 opens at the 2021 San Diego Comic-Con. You know, the one that didn’t happen. Fans are rushing to meet Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragones, only it’s not for their creations but for being mistaken for other creations, which is really heating up Sergio. But the talk goes to the creation of a story, one where Tarzan and Groo meet each other. Sergio has booked this trip to a sketchy wildlife preserve to help gain some needed insight into the project. As nighttime takes Sergio to his dreams, the story is that of Tarzan, strong and reliable, chasing down slavers. The flipside is that of Groo and Rufferto, known to cause destruction wherever they go, being led to cheese dip where it won’t actually be. Both of these characters are well on their way to a meeting.

The writing on Groo Meets Tarzan blends fantasy action and comedy very well and maybe better than probably anyone would. Evanier has written Groo for many, many years but he got his work doing a lot of other, more serious work, and I think that even reading Groo as long as I have, I have more-or-less forgotten that he can do serious and do it well. All the comedy works (for me) as I was a long-time reader of Groo and I think the Groo reader probably has the easier time with this. It feels more like a Groo story.

Artistically speaking, this book blends the Thomas Yeates art nicely with Sergio Aragones’ work. This issue has all of Tarzan’s stuff by Yeates. There’s a good amount of back and forth between the art styles. Yeates opts for something a bit more refined than you’d normally see in a Groo book, lot more detail thrown into his linework. It wouldn’t be a Groo book if we didn’t have some epic two-page showcasing about too many people on a page with jokes all around and we get a good one near the beginning.

I don’t have a bad thing to say about Groo Meets Tarzan, other than they haven’t met yet. I’m not sure what will happen when they do. Fight? Eat cheese dip? Who knows until next month but Groo Meets Tarzan is not at all what I was expecting but I’m glad I read it. Mostly a funny story, but the Tarzan moments do throw some serious moments into the mix. It’s a very enjoyable comic showcasing that Sergio and Mark are the best at the comedy side of comics. I highly recommend it.

Story: Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier Art: Sergio Aragones and Thomas Yeates
Colors by: Tom Luth Letterers: Stan Sakai (Groo pages) and Adam Pruett (Tarzan pages)
Story: 9.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – TFAW

Review: Usagi Yojimbo: Homecoming

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Usagi Yojimbo: Homecoming

For those of us who live far away from where we were born, going back home can be a surreal experience. As we get older, we often have feelings of trepidation and nostalgia when something reminds us of that place. Many memories of why you left home in the first place are part of that internal consternation. We also are reminded of the things and people who are only in that place you came from.

Every time I have been home to New York I’m reminded of growing up there including both good memories and bad memories. I still call it home, even after being away from it for 25 years. What holds true is that every time you go back it feels different every single time. In Usagi Yojimbo: Homecoming, our protagonist goes home but to some unexpected reactions.

In “Tatami”, we find Usagi going back home to the North Province of Tatami, a place he had not been for a very long time, and he is flooded by memories of why he left in the first place, and where he and Chizu protect a valuable transport for the Lord who killed his master, a journey the Neko Ninja Clan looks to foil, but not without a fight from our protagonist, Chizu, and the vassals. In “Mon”, Usagi meets resistance in Tatami and finds trouble in those still bitter from a war long ago, where Usagi lets them meet their ends. In the last story“ The Return”, we find Usagi soon after he defeats the samurai in Tatami, where he ends in his home village and meets some old friends, but their reunion is cut short, when a band of ronin looks to avenge their master, but not before Usagi, his Sensei, and his friends defend their homes.

Overall, Usagi Yojimbo: Homecoming is an excellent collection of stories that proves Sakai still has many tales to tell. The stories by Sakai are exciting. The art by the creative team is beautiful. Altogether, this set of tales proves why everyone should read Usagi Yojimbo.

Story: Stan Sakai Art: Stan Sakai, Shawn Lee, Tom Luth, and Peach Momoko
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW – Bookshop

Review: Usagi Yojimbo #14

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Usagi Yojimbo #14

It’s a massive battle in Usagi Yojimbo #14 as a disarmed Usagi is among a village captured by assassins. He’ll get some much-needed help from Kenichi and Jotaro. But those loyal to Mifune will most-likely be viewed as outlaws, so Usagi sets off on another adventure.

As someone who just loves just about everything samurai-related, I just love Usagi Yojimbo’s fight choreography. So much of it reminds me of the old black-and-white films, especially the fight between Usagi and Kato. Stan Sakai continues to do no wrong with his creation. I think Usagi hits on a lot of different levels for me. I like the art but I know that style-wise that Sakai isn’t a highly-detailed artist. There’s a wide range of emotion in just about every issue and Usagi Yojimbo #14 is no different. You might laugh or be on edge from the drama and the action is not bad, either.

I believe Usagi Yojimbo #14 is the last one that series colorist Tom Luth will work on, as he is retiring from comics. It’s sad to see him go and he’s worked on the book for literally decades. His last work will be in an upcoming Groo The Wanderer book from Dark Horse.

This was an arc that saw Usagi come back home to where his lord was defeated. Usagi hasn’t dipped in quality but it certainly feels like it’s got a new life with IDW Publishing. This arc is worth a read and new readers could jump on with little trouble. I do recognize the art is not the most detailed but the look of Usagi Yojimbo is so unique. Happy trails to Tom Luth on an illustrious career and I can’t wait for issue 15.

Story: Stan Sakai Art: Stan Sakai Color: Tom Luth
Story: 9.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read this but talk yourself into picking up the eventual TPB

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Usagi Yojimbo #1

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Usagi Yojimbo #1

I’ve never read Usagi Yojimbo, but with the move to IDW Publishing and a clear start, it felt that reading Usagi Yojimbo #1 was something I should do.

Jumping around a bit, the first issue eventually focuses on the rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi. The beginning of a three-part story Usagi becomes involved in a battle against demons where not everything is quite what it seems.

The start of a new chapter, Usagi Yojimbo #1 is entertaining. Having never read a previous issue, Sakai’s writing is fun and entertaining. There’s humor about it and a story that is much more adult than its anthropomorphic characters makes it out to be.

I should know better, as the comic has a history with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles whose comic versions are much more mature than the kids television show of the past. Much like TMNT, Usagi Yojimbo has a sense that it’s much more than its cute and fuzzy characters.

Sakai infuses a sense of Japan into the comic. The surroundings and outfits feel researched and there’s a sense of respect for the setting. The use of terminology too creates a more authentic take as well. The characters are interesting with a cuteness about them. That feels like it makes the demonic elements even scarier and unnerving as they’re introduced.

I’ve never read Usagi Yojimbo but this debut issue has me understanding what the hype and love is all about. I’m not sure it’s enough to get me to want to go back and see what I’ve been missing. But, it’s more than enough to get me excited to read what’s to come.

Story: Stan Sakai Art: Stan Sakai
Letterer: Stan Sakai Color: Tom Luth
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Dark Horse Loses Another Title as Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo Heads to IDW

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Usagi Yojimbo

Dark Horse has been losing some pretty high-profile titles, Conan, Star Wars, Buffy, and now Stan Sakai has announced via the New York Times that his creator-owned series Usagi Yojimbo will be heading to IDW Publishing. The title had been published for 24 years with Dark Horse.

The series will be relaunched with a new first issue to encourage new readers as the previous volume ended with #165. The new series is set to debut in June. IDW will also reprint the entire series from the beginning in colorized collections. The new series will be colored by Tom Luth.

Usagi Yojimbo #1 includes a main cover by Stan Sakai, plus variants by Daniel Warren Johnson, Kevin Eastman, and Walt Simonson.

Written and illustrated by Stan Sakai for over thirty years and published in over fourteen countries, Usagi Yojimbo is set in a unique world based on 17th century Japan. Miyamoto Usagi, who once served as the personal bodyguard for a Japanese warlord, now traverses this unique world – a landscape populated by ghosts, dinosaurs, monsters, and warriors of all kinds – as a ronin. In his many exciting adventures, the swordsrabbit hones his skills, saves villages, and often finds himself navigating the delicate affairs of national/political significance.

The move also reunites the character with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who are published with IDW. The two have crossed over a lot and Usagi Yojimbo was previously published by Mirage, the original home of TMNT. The series has also been published by Fantagraphics.

ECCC 2016: Evanier and Aragonés Deliver Groo: Fray of the Gods

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Announced at Emerald City Comicon, Dark Horse will deliver a new ongoing Groo series: Groo: Fray of the Gods.

This twelve-issue limited series features a tale told by the same award-winning creative team as always: Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, with Tom Luth coloring and Stan Sakai on the lettering pen.

The gods did not bless Groo with brains, only with the ability to battle. Now, they themselves are in conflict over the spirit and future of mankind…and it is Groo who becomes the pawn (unwitting, of course) in their war. If the future of humanity depends on the Wanderer—we’re all in a lot of trouble.

Groo: Fray of the Gods #1 is on sale July 20, 2016.

Groo Fray of the Gods

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