Comic Crush Saturday: September 21st, 2019
Welcome to Comic Crush Saturday, our bi-weekly feature focused on the graphic elements of the book world. Comics became a huge part of my life a few years ago when I started reviewing them (and comic related TV shows) on Forever Young Adult. I’ve maintained a pull list through my local comic shop, Isotope Comics, and even got Kelly to start one ;). You’ll find mini-reviews, what we’ve read recently, and more so check it out!
Featured Review of the Week
DC Ink is an imprint directed at young adult readers. It is composed of a world-class line-up of authors with an established fanbase. The titles of this imprint aren’t part of the main continuity.
Review
I generally use this space to write reviews for one specific title. Today I decided to talk about what DC Ink is doing with their titles.
DC Ink/DC Zoom are recently developed young reader/middle grade/young adult graphic novel lines featuring DC characters. The first few books are out now, with several focused on female characters featuring female creators. There is an amazing lineup coming, too. Now, this isn’t a unique adventure; Marvel has released MG and YA novels (and graphic novels, including a standalone Squirrel Girl novel) and First Second/Graphix/etc have created new characters and adapted other stories forever. So why are we talking about yet another company doing the same ol?
I stopped reading DC comics when Rebirth happened. My favorite creative teams were dissolved. Much of the art style that appealed to me as a reader and comics that were fresh perspectives disappeared overnight. It no longer felt like a space I was welcome in.
DC Ink brought me back to some of my favorite characters through creators I trust, in art and writing. I am incredibly impressed with the art on the four of the books I’ve picked up. The use of color is integral to the storytelling in each book. Each story is not a retelling of a comic book but a unique piece of the character’s life.
Up next is Marie Lu’s Batman: Nightwalker, out October 1st. Check out a few more recs from the MG DC Zoom line below!
What We Can’t Wait For
Black Canary: Ignite
by Meg Cabot, Cara McGeePublished by: DC Zoom
on October 29, 2019
Genres: Young Adult
IndieBound
Goodreads
Meg Cabot's first graphic novel!
Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance knows exactly what she wants, who she is, and where she's going. First, she'll win the battle of the bands with her two best friends, then she'll join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy so she can solve crimes just like her dad. Who knows, her rock star group of friends may even save the world, but first they'll need to agree on a band name.
When a mysterious figure keeps getting in the way of Dinah's goals and threatens her friends and family, she'll learn more about herself, her mother's secret past, and navigating the various power chords of life.
That cover. That creative team. That hero! GIVE IT TO ME.
Best News of the Week
Things I didn’t know I needed until I saw it…
.@gabydunn‘s #BurytheLede by @boomstudios is the queer psychological drama we all need in our lives! Read on for 5 reasons you should be reading this graphic novel HERE: https://t.co/XhjEkAedym pic.twitter.com/dIpRuBKPAp
— Fangirlish (@fangirlish) September 10, 2019
This cover for the upcoming RWBY comic!
Now for something diff. My variant cover for RWBY—the anime series from @roosterteeth, now a comic book published by @dccomics! Beautiful colors & effects by @sinccolor! Written by the always terrific @evilmarguerite & drawn by the ever talented mirkand89 and @arifprianto_arf! pic.twitter.com/H7FwgU1yhV
— Jim Lee (@JimLee) September 20, 2019
I know this short is going to have my husband singing Spider-Pig for the rest of eternity…
Are you ready for the new Watchmen?
It’s time. #WatchmenHBO pic.twitter.com/SBdDiENOzK
— DC (@DCComics) September 20, 2019
Comics can do better by inviting specific creators to projects, yes!
woke up to an email from an editor asking me to pitch for a WFH bake-off and I’m gonna enjoy writing back “Nah” on this one
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) September 20, 2019
Wow! I’m glad you came back to DC. I so didn’t know Meg Cabot was doing Black Canary. Can’t wait to see more from DC ink.
[…] Comic Crush, we sang the praises of the DC Ink line. Now we are here to talk about the titles we’ve read […]