BC Refugees Blog

JESSICA JONES #2 (Marvel Comics, November 2016 release)  Writer: Brian Michael Bendis.  Artist: Michael Gaydos.  Color Artist: Matt Hollingsworth.  Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit.  Main cover by David Mack.         One of the things that has been favorably mentioned regarding the Netflix version of JESSICA JONES is the artist ic opening credits.  Marvel seems to be following suit with the comic version, using David Mack to create expressionist images of the main character.  Issue #2 is a painted scene of Jessica Jones facing the geometric images of a city scape.  Viewed in a different way, it’s also a side profile of her face in contemplation.  Nice touch.          It’s also a good move in that it helps dissuade younger readers; in addition to the box on the cover that proclaims ‘Parental Advisory! Not For Kids!’   in vivid red against a black background.  I can’t imagine a young reader looking for a Marvel superhero book picking this up based on the cover art.  There’s actually nothing...

EDITOR’S NOTE:  We conclude our spotlight on WEIRD DETECTIVE, our nomination for the Best Mini-Series of 2016.  It should also be in consideration for recognition in the horror genre, including the Ghastly Award and the Rondo Hatton Award.  We’ve reviewed each issue, and hope to draw more attention to this deserving creative work of imagination.  P.S. . .  There are some incidental spoilers in our review, so tread cautiously. If you’ve come this far, why not pick up the whole series?  The trade paperback is scheduled to be released February 08,2017 and was featured in the October PREVIEWS catalog. Contact your local comic shop and order Diamond #OCT160070. You won’t regret it.  WEIRD DETECTIVE #5 of 5  (Dark Horse Comics, September 2016 release)  Script: Fred Van Lente.  Art: Guiu Vilanova.  Colors: Mauricio Wallace.  Letters: Nate Piekos of Blambot.  Main cover by Guiu Vilanova & Mauricio Wallace.        One of the many things we’ve loved about WEIRD DETECTIVE are the referenc...

EDITOR’S NOTE:  We continue our spotlight on WEIRD DETECTIVE, our nomination for the Best Mini-Series of 2016.  It should also be in consideration for recognition in the horror genre, including the Ghastly Award and the Rondo Hatton Award.  We plan to review each issue, and hope to draw more attention to this deserving creative work of imagination.  P.S. . .  There are some incidental spoilers in our review, so tread cautiously. If you’ve come this far, why not pick up the whole series?  The trade paperback is scheduled to be released February 08,2017 and was featured in the October PREVIEWS catalog. Contact your local comic shop and order Diamond #OCT160070. You won’t regret it.  Not to be missed.   WEIRD DETECTIVE #4 of 5  (Dark Horse Comics, September 2016 release)  Script: Fred Van Lente.  Art: Guiu Vilanova.  Colors: Mauricio Wallace.  Letters: Nate Piekos of Blambot.  Main cover by Guiu Vilanova & Mauricio Wallace.      True to the promise of the credits page update on wh...

EDITOR’S NOTE:  We continue our spotlight on WEIRD DETECTIVE, our nomination for the Best Mini-Series of 2016.  It should also be in consideration for recognition in the horror genre, including the Ghastly Award and the Rondo Hatton Award.  We plan to review each issue, and hope to draw more attention to this deserving creative work of imagination.   WEIRD DETECTIVE #3 of 5  (Dark Horse Comics, August 2016 release)  Script: Fred Van Lente.  Art: Guiu Vilanova.  Colors: Mauricio Wallace.  Letters: Nate Piekos of Blambot.  Main cover by Guiu Vilanova & Mauricio Wallace.        Issue #2 ended on a real cliff-hanger.  Here’s the wrap-up from the spooky credits page:  “Detective Greene has managed to give his partner, Detective Fayez, the slip and continues his hunt for the Juice Box Killer!  Greene’s investigation leads him to the ‘tainted’ Anzio crime family’s barge in the harbor.  Has he found the answers, or is he in over his head?”       Issue #3 resolves the minor conflict i...

EDITOR’S NOTE: We continue our spotlight on WEIRD DETECTIVE, our nomination for the Best Mini-Series of 2016. It should also be in consideration for recognition in the horror genre, including the Ghastly Award and the Rondo Hatton Award. We plan to review each issue, and hope to draw more attention to this deserving creative work of imagination.   WEIRD DETECTIVE #2 of 5  (Dark Horse Comics, July 2016 release)  Writer: Fred Van Lente.  Art: Guiu Vilanova.  Colors: Mauricio Wallace.  Letters: Nate Piekos of Blambot.  Main cover by Guiu Vilanova and Mauricio Wallace         As Issue #1 ended, Detective Sebastian Greene (the alien version) seemed to be getting closer to locating the whereabouts of the Old Ones,  a location he was willing to compromise the safety of his new partner, Sana Fayez, in order to find.        The lurid cover of Issue #2 transposes three figures over each other.  In the background is the transparent visage of Detective Fayez, eyes wide in open-mouthed frigh...

  EDITOR’S NOTE: Is there a title you’ve read this year that you’re still raving about?  Is there a book or a series that’s so good that you want all your friends to read it?  Do you endorse it to perfect strangers and leave verbal testimonials whenever the opportunity arises?  If so, you're not alone!  We know the feeling.  The pleasure of discovery feels so good it’s hard not to enthuse about it and try to share that emotion with others. Every year we look for a book or limited series that we can get behind and wave the flag for.  For 2016, we nominate the WEIRD DETECTIVE mini-series at Dark Horse.  We’ve already reviewed the first issue for the Nameless Digest website back in June (  http://www.namelessdigest.com/2016/07/27/review-weird-detective-lovecraft-for-the-masses/   ), and reprint most of that review below with some expanded material and insights more in line with the interests of comics fans.  We're going to review the entire run here, so stand by for more.  WEIR...

MOTOR GIRL  #1 (Abstract Studio, November 2016 release)  Story and Art: Terry Moore.  Black and White, 28 pages. $3.99  http://abstractstudiocomics.com             How is it that I’ve never read a Terry Moore book prior to MOTOR GIRL?  He’s been publishing several high-quality, award-worthy works from his studio in Houston, Texas since 1993. STRANGERS IN PARADISE (1993-2007), his first project, won an Eisner Award in 1996 for Best Continuing Series. I haven’t read a single issue, an error of negligence I may take steps to correct soon.  Somehow, I also missed ECHO (2008-2011).  Perhaps the most overlooked of all is the horror-themed RACHEL RISING (2001-2016) winner of a 2014 Harvey Award for Best Lettering, and a 2015 Harvey Award for Terry Moore as Best Cartoonist. There have been various nominations over the years for more Harvey and Eisner awards, most recently the Inkwell All-In-One Award nomination for 2016.        Maybe you have the same problem as I.  There’s just more qual...

compiled from Pre-Order data by Diamond Comics Distributors . . . . . Marvel Comics was October's top publisher with a 35.89% dollar share and a 36.58% unit share. DC Entertainment was the month's number two publisher with a 30.70% dollar share and a 34.76% unit share. At number three was Image Comics with a 9.45% dollar share and an 8.83% unit share. IDW Publishing was fourth with a 4.70% dollar share and a 3.44% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.47% dollar share and 2.27% units share.