Tag: Carlos Mangual

Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Welcome to the first edition of Shari’s Suggestions. In this column, I will be reviewing original graphic novels (OGNs). The majority of books I review will be aimed at young to young adult readers. So, if that is what you like or are looking for, keep coming back. The first OGN I am reviewing is Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
DC Comics / DC Ink
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Steve Pugh
Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
Release Date: September 3, 2019

This book is a an alternate story of the origin of Harley Quinn. This graphic novel is for teenage readers and up. There is some violence and a few curse words.

The story starts with Harleen Quinzel arriving in Gotham on a bus from her hometown because her Mom had to take a job out of the country. She is going to stay in an apartment with her Grandma for the time being. She enjoys staying there, but since she is high school age, she needs to attend the local high school, where she meets the girl who will become her best friend. That’s right, Ivy is here too. The two hit it off right way and Ivy has some positive influence on her. Continue reading “Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass”

Preview Review for the Week of 5/20/2020: Disaster, Inc. from AfterShock Comics

Preview Review for the Week of 5/20/2020: Disaster, Inc. from AfterShock Comics

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.  This is where we give advanced glimpses at some of the comics that will be coming out this Wednesday.

There are new comics in comic shops TOMORROW!!!

Since it has been a while, here is a reminder for you. Here at Pop Culture Squad, we are decidedly Anti-Spoiler.  We feel that ruining someone’s experience with something for the sake of getting a scoop or clicks is the wrong thing to do. Therefore, we have decided to publish this column, as necessary, with mostly spoiler-free reviews of upcoming issues.  Hopefully, the information that we share with you will increase your excitement for these books.

This week we feature a new book from AfterShock Comics. It is Disaster, Inc. #1 by Joe Harris and Sebastián Piriz and lettered by Carlos Mangual.

You can find Disaster, Inc. at your LCS on May 20, 2020.


Disaster, Inc. #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Joe Harris
Art by Sebastián Piriz
Letters by Carlos Mangual
Cover Art by Andy Clarke with Jose Villarrubia

Original Solicitation:

In 2011, the worst earthquake in Japan’s history (and the catastrophic tsunami that followed) breached the costal Fukushima Daiichi power plant, causing three of its four nuclear reactors to melt down. Forced evacuations followed as the event released enough radioactive material into the air, ground and water to force officials to set up an “Exclusion Zone” for only the second time in history after the Chernobyl disaster, effectively sealing off the land for what may well be the rest of human history.

But that’s only if you don’t have the right connections, the right people to pull the strings, and the desire to experience catastrophe, failure and misery as it really is! Enter DISASTER INC., an underground tourism outfit intent on helping people of means, secrets and agendas explore the dark corners and off-map attractions typical tour groups won’t go to (and various laws don’t allow). Only Fukushima, known for its famed warrior class and their protection of the land and people dating back to ancient times, is full of deadly surprises and old ghosts.

Writer Joe Harris and artist Sebastián Piriz begin a disaster tour checking out the worst places on earth while digging up more trouble than they can probably handle. Then, in a world on fire and rife with calamity, catastrophe, war and unrest… you’re going to need the right guides to see it for yourself!

PCS Review:

This book is gripping and bold. The premise is intriguing and innovative while at the same time taking aim at some familiar themes. Joe Harris has the pacing set excellently. The unfolding events of the conflict are captivating, and the characterization of the individuals has the reader wondering just how weird this thing will get.

Sebastián Piriz does an excellent job in this book of visualizing a beautiful yet scarred landscape. The character designs are lovely and expressive. This is just a gorgeously rendered book. The color work that Piriz employs is well rendered and there is a lightness to this first issue that the reader expects to change as this series moves along deeper into the story. Carlos Mangual letters this book in a smart and effective way. His lettering is a major asset to the storytelling.

This is a fantastic debut issue to a captivating story.

 

You can also check out an interview that we did with Joe Harris here.