Comic Review: Rainbow Brite issue #1 by Jeremy Whitley (Dynamite Entertainment)

RAINBOW BRITE #1

10/3/2018
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Art: Brittney Williams
Genre: All-Ages Adventure, Media Tie-In
Dynamite Entertainment

SKU: C72513027348201011
Rating: All Ages

Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 PagesPrice: $3.99

Cover A: Paulina Ganucheau
UPC: 725130273482 01011
Cover B: Tony Fleecs
UPC: 725130273482 01021
Cover C: "Classic" Cover
UPC: 725130273482 01031

Dynamite-amazon

The adventure begins for children and adults alike, as the classic character Rainbow Brite comes to comics and brings a little color to your life!

Wisp and Willow are best friends who live in a small town. They are inseparable, until one night Wisp discovers something is stealing the color from the world! To escape their grasp, Wisp must use her wits and the help of a new friend...from somewhere else! Then the adventure begins!

Follow along with writer Jeremy Whitley (My Little Pony, Unstoppable Wasp) and artist Brittney Williams (Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, Goldie Vance) as we find out how this seemingly normal girl becomes Rainbow Brite and how it changes Wisp, Willow, and their world!

Rainbow Brite was a bit after my time. I never watched the show but I knew who she was, everyone did. And there is always at least one person cosplaying her at Comicons. Then I found out one of my favorite comic writers, Jeremy Whitley, was going to be involved in bringing Rainbow Brite to comics, I was onboard.

The comic series will begin with Rainbow Brite's origin story and giving the reader plenty of world building and character development. The original cartoon didn't include any of that. So Jeremy had creative license to invent a modern day Rainbow Brite. And if there was ever a character meant for the magical girl genre it's Rainbow Brite.

In issue #1 you meet Wisp and her best friend Willow. They are LARPers (live action role players)! We meet Willow's supportive parents and get a peek into Wisp's home. It looks like she is being raised by just her mom. Wisp sees some color stealing monsters and doesn't hesitate (she might be a fight first, talk later kind of girl) to go after them. She meets Twinkle and life gets weird for Wisp.

The art bold and bright with relatively simple line art. Very kid friendly. This is an all-ages comic and perfect for elementary kids. Jeremy Whitely writes many comics for young girls. His characters are smart, funny, and have an excellent representation of sexualities, genders, and POCs (people of color). A must have in school libraries...I'm just saying...

4 "color-stealing" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
He is the writer/co-creator of the original series “Princeless", “The Order of Dagonet", and “Illegal".  He has also done work for hire for companies such as IDW Publishing on the properties “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", “My Little Pony: Friends Forever" and “Courage the Cowardly Dog"."

Princeless" has been nominated for two Eisners, including “Best Series for Ages 8-10" and “Best Single Issue (Vol 1 Issue 3)".

“Princeless" has also won three Glyph Awards for representation in comics including “Best Story", “Best Female Character" and “Best Writer" for Jeremy’s work on the book.  This series was also nominated for “Best Cover" and “Best Artist" both for work by M. Goodwin.

Interview: Comic Writer Jeremy Whitley - Rainbow Brite #1 from Dynamite Entertainment

Give a big sheep welcome to one of my favorite comic writers. Jeremy Whitley created Princeless and Raven: Pirate Princess. Comics with strong young female characters as well as LGBT and POC representation. These are the comics your kids deserve! 

This October Jeremy has a couple of awesome projects coming. Including Rainbow Brite! That's right, he is bringing her back. But what will she be like this time around? Check out what Jeremy has to say about it. 

Sharon: How did you get involved with writing Rainbow Brite?

Jeremy: Kevin Ketner, who is the editor on Rainbow Brite, had worked with me before at Dynamite and we had gotten along really well and wanted to work together again. Hallmark was looking for pitches from people on what they would like to do on Rainbow Brite and Kevin asked if I would be interested in submitting one. Hallmark went through all of the options they had and liked mine the best, so we went for it.

Sharon: Is this a reboot of the series?

Jeremy: Sort of. I mean, it’s not working on the same continuity as the original series, but we are trying to keep as many of the elements of the original series as we can while modernizing the way it’s told. The original was very episodic, largely because it functioned on the needs of a line of toys. We have no such restrictions and therefore are free to tell the story we want to tell in the way we want to tell it. We can introduce pieces of the world a little bit at a time and focus on building a fully realized world and mythology around Rainbow Brite.

Sharon: Since Rainbow Brite is such an iconic character were you given any creative freedom for the comic or were you and the artist given strict guidelines?

Jeremy: For the most part we have been given a lot of room to make this the kind of story we want to make. Hallmark has particular messages and ideals that they want to see Rainbow Brite maintain, but they’re pretty open to recontextualizing that stuff in a way that makes sense. As well known as Rainbow Brite is, there’s actually relatively little canon. The original series only had 13 issues and a made for tv movie. Hallmark definitely has things they don’t want to compromise on, but for the most part, those aren’t things I’m looking to change.

Sharon: How does your Rainbow Brite differ from the original 80s?

Jeremy: I think the biggest difference is that the version from the 80s sort of shows up in the first issue fully formed. There’s not much discussion about who she is or where she comes from, she’s just here to save the day. Our story is going to focus a lot more on Rainbow Brite as a character. We’re going to see her before she’s Rainbow Brite and learn who she was and how she became the hero we know and love. As she grows, she’s also going to have a more varied power set than she did in the original, which we’ll explore the reasons for as we go.

Sharon: Why were these changes made?

Jeremy: The biggest reason we’re making changes is to expand on and explore the world more. The cartoon had a very 80’s cartoon way of saying “here’s the world, this is how it is,” but this is a world that our heroine isn’t from and is just getting to explore alongside the reader, so we want to give her a chance to experiment and learn new things. Plus, when your protagonist doesn’t roll into the story with all of the power, it gives them a little more room to grow. I think characters that learn and grow are important for young readers to see. Nobody is just born a superhero.

Sharon: What aspects of the character did you keep?

Jeremy: The biggest thing is that we wanted to keep her a character who, like Wonder Woman or Moana, is not just a warrior, but is a hero who values traditionally female values. Rainbow Brite is about the powers of kindness, honesty, empathy – not just punching and shooting. 

The other big aspect that’s part of her original character, but has actually become a much bigger thing since the original Rainbow Brite is that she is a magical girl. She’s originally a normal girl named Wisp with an extraordinary capability for compassion. She transforms into Rainbow Brite and if our story, we’re going to play more with her transitioning back and forth.

Sharon: What other projects do you coming up?

Jeremy: Well, my Marvel series “The Unstoppable Wasp” is making its triumphant return this October with a new #1 issue.

In addition to that, my creator-owned series “Princeless” is coming back with volume 7 starting in October as well. “Raven: Pirate Princess,” which started off as a spinoff of Princeless and has since become very much its own thing, is wrapping up year 2 with the upcoming 12th and 13th issues to cap that year off. We’ve already started working on year 3.

On top of that, we have a brand new My Little Pony mini-series coming out from IDW in October called “Nightmare Knights” and is going to be a ton of fun.

There are a few more things coming late this year and early next year, but nothing we can talk about just yet.

Sharon: Are you going to be at any cons this year?

Jeremy: Yes! I’ll be at Dragon Con at the beginning of September, SPX in mid-September, New York Comic Con at the beginning of October, and Bull City Comic Con here in North Carolina at the beginning of October.

RAINBOW BRITE #1

10/3/2018
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Art: Brittney Williams
Genre: All-Ages Adventure, Media Tie-In
Dynamite Entertainment

SKU: C72513027348201011
Rating: All Ages

Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 PagesPrice: $3.99

Cover A: Paulina Ganucheau
UPC: 725130273482 01011
Cover B: Tony Fleecs
UPC: 725130273482 01021
Cover C: "Classic" Cover
UPC: 725130273482 01031

Pre-order

The adventure begins for children and adults alike, as the classic character Rainbow Brite comes to comics and brings a little color to your life!

Wisp and Willow are best friends who live in a small town. They are inseparable, until one night Wisp discovers something is stealing the color from the world! To escape their grasp, Wisp must use her wits and the help of a new friend...from somewhere else! Then the adventure begins!

Follow along with writer Jeremy Whitley (My Little Pony, Unstoppable Wasp) and artist Brittney Williams (Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, Goldie Vance) as we find out how this seemingly normal girl becomes Rainbow Brite and how it changes Wisp, Willow, and their world!

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
He is the writer/co-creator of the original series “Princeless", “The Order of Dagonet", and “Illegal".  He has also done work for hire for companies such as IDW Publishing on the properties “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", “My Little Pony: Friends Forever" and “Courage the Cowardly Dog"."

Princeless" has been nominated for two Eisners, including “Best Series for Ages 8-10" and “Best Single Issue (Vol 1 Issue 3)".


“Princeless" has also won three Glyph Awards for representation in comics including “Best Story", “Best Female Character" and “Best Writer" for Jeremy’s work on the book.  This series was also nominated for “Best Cover" and “Best Artist" both for work by M. Goodwin.

Comic Review: Bob’s Burgers Vol. 1 Dynamite Comics (2015)

Bob's Burgers Vol. 1 TP
Writer(s): Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake, Justin Hook, Rachel Hastings, Mike Olsen
Artist(s): Robin Brigstocke, Bernard Derriman, Frank Forte, Tyler Garrison, Tony Gennaro, Kat Kosmala, Brad Rader, Hector Reynoso, Steven Theis, Damon Wong
Cover: Steve Umbleby

Dynamite Entertainment

March 18, 2015
Format: 136 pgs., Full-Color, Trade Paperback
Rating: Teen+
Now you can read about the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene and Louise) with brand-new in-canon stories created by the TV show's producers, writers, and animators--and overseen by series creator Loren Bouchard! That's right, all-original stories that expand upon the fan-favorite animated series, including hilarious installments of "Louise's Unsolved Mysteries," "Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction," "A Gene Belcher Original Musical," "Letters Written by Linda," "Bob's Burgers of the Day," and much more!

Once upon a time I was a fan of Brendon Small’s animated series, ‘Home Movies,’ which was a love letter to just how effed up childhood could be while still finding a metric ton of joy with friends and family. H. Jon Benjamin voiced Coach McGirk on that show, and with a voice like his I've been drawn to any show in which he stars. Enter ‘Bob’s Burgers.’

When the show debuted a few years back and that indelible, gruff voice rang out for Bob, I was pretty much a fan from the word go. All the better was the fact the series taps into the same vein of dry humor and absurdism that made ‘Home Movies’ so great, but this series is much more polished and a broader scope with regards to character and plot.

So when I heard there was a comic book series too, my interest was piqued.

The thing is that the comic book series doesn’t have a format resembling anything like the TV series. Rather than a solitary storyline followed along in traditional fashion, each issue is broken up into five sections, one for each member of the Belcher family. With that approach, each issue feels more like a collection of vignettes spotlighting each character. An interesting approach, but the payoff was lacking in parts.

While Tina, the eldest daughter, steals the show in each issue through her wildly imaginative (and mildly erotic at times) fan-fic, Bob actually gets short shrift in each issue with his meager offerings appearing as custom-made burger menus. It's a nice nod to the recurring gag on the show, but it's such a let down when the title character of the series is barely an interlude in each issue.

At the end of the day, the book serves better as a coffee table book than a graphic novel. The artwork holds true to the TV series, what stories are in its pages can enjoyed in no time flat, and ultimately the book feels more like a companion piece for collector's and fans of the show. If you're a die-hard fan of the show, you'll want to check it out, but if you've never seen the show before, then you're better off skipping it.

3 1/2 stars

Gef Fox

http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com/

Sheep ARC review: Cry Wolf (Alpha&Omega Graphic Volume #1)

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega Graphic #1)
by Patricia Briggs (Creator), David Lawrence (Adapter), Jordan Gunderson (Illustrator)

The long-awaited collection-the first four issues of the graphic novel adaptation of the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author's novel "Cry Wolf"

"Cry Wolf" is Patricia Briggs' "New York Times" bestselling novel about the werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham. Now, these characters come alive in full-color graphic novels.

Anne never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males.

Then Charles Cornick-the son of the leader of the North American werewolves-came into her life. He insists that not only is Anne his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And Anna may be the key to stopping a rogue werewolf that threatens the entire pack.

This is a re-issue of Ace's compilation of the Dynamite Entertainment Cry Wolf graphic series. It contains new artwork and a never-before published version of issue #1. It is NOT identical to the Ace edition though it does have the same ISBN.

I have read some of the Mercy Thompson graphic novels and loved everything about them so I was excited to see the Alpha and Omega series was also being adapted as a graphic novel. The only Briggs novel I have read is Fair Game (Alpha and Omega series Book #3) and I was blown away by Briggs's writing (my review). Cry Wolf: Volume One is a collection of the first four issues based on the first book in the A&O series, which I haven’t read.

Cry Wolf: Volume One is about Anna, who was changed unwillingly into a werewolf and then abused by the pack that changed her. She was rescued by Charles who is Bran’s (ruler of all werewolves in North America) son and chief enforcer and it turns out Anna is Charles’s mate. Their inner wolves recognize each other but they have yet to complete the bond as man and woman and Charles doesn’t want to force her after her traumatic experience with the pack that turned her. Anna is also a rare Omega wolf with powers she doesn’t understand but will prove fateful in later chapters. Charles and Anna are sent to investigate attacks in his pack’s territory of Montana. Volume one introduces us to Charles’s family and sprinkles in Anna’s and Charles’s individual backstories to catch the reader up.

The writing was a little vague and I was confused at first but things were eventually addressed later in the story. If you have already read the novels, though, this might not be an issue for you. By the end of the fourth chapter I was hooked on the storyline and there was plenty of suspense, and I was happy that a few pages from Volume Two were included as a teaser.

The whole point of a graphic novel is to have pictures do most of the story telling so it is a major part of the book. Unfortunately, the artwork didn’t deliver a great experience in this collection. The cover art for all four chapters is perfect and sketches provided as extra content were spot on, but something happened when it came to the coloring of the panels. The characters become too cartoonish looking and downright ugly in some panels. When compared to the Mercy Thompson graphic novels this was a disappointment, and I expected better.

Bran, Charles and Samuel

I would give the story adaptation 4 Sheep, but the art is of such importance in this media I can only give this 3 Sheep overall.

Sharon Stogner (edited by BAK)

No, Charles...just No