Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • All The Rage: Support Your Local ATR Guy

      Daniel Gehen
      April 19, 2003
      All the Rage
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Convergence Week 3

      Daniel Gehen
      April 24, 2015
      DC Comics, Reviews, Singles Going Steady
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 4.3

      Review: RADIANT BLACK #1 Shines Brightly

      Daniel Gehen
      February 12, 2021
      Image, Indie, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.0

      Review: Beast Wars #2 another chance to change the past

      Stephen Cook
      March 3, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 5.0

      Review: 'King Conan: Hour of the Dragon' #1 Is a Conan Masterwork

      Daniel Gehen
      May 27, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • Singles Going Steady – Vowels, Who Needs Them?

      Daniel Gehen
      March 8, 2021
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Roy Thomas: On the Road Back to Conan

      Daniel Gehen
      November 22, 2011
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Frank Miller's Ronin Pt. 3: Simple and Totally Preposterous

      Daniel Gehen
      July 22, 2016
      Classic Comics, Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • VISITOR is the Quintessential “SPIRIT” Story

      Daniel Gehen
      March 26, 2021
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Image Comics Panel at Boston Comic Con

      Daniel Gehen
      August 9, 2014
      News
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • 5.0

      RED ROSA: A Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2015
      Books, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Collecting Profile: 1990 Marvel Universe Trading Cards
  • Collecting Profile: Red Sonja
  • Collecting Profile: Dr. Doom
  • VISITOR is the Quintessential “SPIRIT” Story
  • Collecting Profile: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Big Two
Big Two Reviews

Sandman Going Steady for May 2020

Daniel Gehen
June 2, 2020
Big Two Reviews, DC Comics, Reviews, Singles Going Steady

The comics industry sluggishly moved forward during May, as publishers and comic shops continue to struggle with the reality of the global pandemic. Thankfully, a couple books from the Sandman Universe did drop during May, allowing me to continue this column. Is that a little selfish of me? Perhaps. But outside DCeased, the Sandman Universe titles are probably the best thing DC has going for it, so let’s dive in.

Books of Magic #19

(w) David Barnett (a) Tom Fowler, Craig Taillefer (c) Marissa Louise

Kicking off the “Field of Dreams” arc, David Barnett’s story gives readers a much deserved break from the usual “will Tim Hunter turn evil” schtick that Books of Magic has examined time and again (including in this series). Breaking from the familiar formula, Barnett introduces a new supporting character, Izzy, into Tim’s world who is also a peer. Now that Tim has been acclimated and introduced into the world of magic, Izzy takes on the role of audience surrogate. This adds an interesting wrinkle as she and readers rely on Tim to explain what’s happening, but given his own inexperience he takes on the form of an unreliable guide. So when things unsurprisingly start to go sideways, it makes for an entertaining read.

Of course, this title isn’t just the work of the writer, as the script is given life by the art team of Tom Fowler, Craig Taillefer, and Marissa Louise. The trio of artists are tasked with creating a whole new realm distinct from the Dreaming or Faerie, and they succeed in the world of the Festival. Though it does resemble a town fair, there are enough distinct elements to make it stand on its own. Where the Festival really shines is in the creature designs, with some very interesting and grotesque figures popping up across the issue.

House of Whispers #20

(w) Nalo Hopkinson, Dan Watters (a) Dominike “DOMO” Stanton, Matthew Dow Smith (c) Zac Atkinson

Nalo Hopkinson and Dan Watters continue to weave an intricate web of social commentary in this installment of House of Whispers. As America grapples with the reality of systemic racism, the writing duo offers readers an insight into black culture and mythology – albeit shaded by the trappings of the overarching Sandman Universe. Why do gods allow hatred to fester? Why don’t they offer protection for the disenfranchised? Why didn’t they intervene when Africans were slaves? While the issue doesn’t provide any meaningful answers to these questions, the idea of these questions being asked in a comic book by a mainstream, corporate publisher in 2020 is encouraging.

On a more technical level, House of Whispers continues to suffer from the weight of its own ambition. Whereas the other Sandman Universe titles have a singular narrative focus, House of Whispers is divided into three or more intertwining narratives that rarely feel connected, other than by the great artwork by DOMO Stanton, Matthew Smith, and Zac Atkinson. House of Whispers #20 may be a narrative mess, but it’s a beautiful-looking, narrative mess. And for those readers patient enough to sift through it, there are powerful messages to be found.

Books of MagicDan WattersDavid BarnettDominike "Domo" StantonHouse of WhispersNalo HopkinsonSandman Going SteadySandman UniverseTom Fowler

Share On:
Tweet
AHOY Comics Announces Its Return
The Full Run: Final Crisis “Last Rites” in BATMAN

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Editor-in-Chief

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • Sandman Going Steady for June 2020

    Daniel Gehen
    June 30, 2020
  • Sandman Going Steady for April 2020

    Daniel Gehen
    April 29, 2020

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders