#david rubín

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Cruel Universe #3 by Cullen Bunn, Zac Thomson, J. Holtham, Dan McDaid, David Rubín, Kano and more. Cover by Greg Smallwood. Variant covers by (2) Dave Johnson and (3) Jay Stephens. Out in October.

"Once you were an innocent child, beloved by your parents and esteemed by your peers. You built a career and a family, and even found time for your poetry. But none of that matters now. Your sun has just gone supernova and reduced your world to a glowing cinder. So pretty. So red. 'Twas a sight while it lasted. Over now. BUT AT LEAST WE GET TO KEEP THIS COMIC AS A SOUVENIR! This month in the world's most existentially devastating comic magazine: The otherworldly talents of Cullen Bunn and David Rubín, J. Holtham and Kano, and Zac Thomson and Dan McDaid begin a manned expedition to the extremes of human existence and imagine the terrifying possibilities of what to expect when the best of intentions meet the cold, hard reality of our worst instincts. For the discerning reader that demands science fiction that stings, we give you CRUEL UNIVERSE!"

[theblackestofsuns]

“An Unhealthy Amount Of Gum!!”

MIND MGMT: Bootleg #3 (September 2022)

Matt Kindt and David Rubín

Dark Horse Comics

[comicbookclub]

Dark Horse Comics Preview: Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #4

Read a preview of Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #4 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks, with art by David Rubín.

[comicbookclublive]

Dark Horse Comics Preview: Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #4

Read a preview of Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #4 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks, with art by David Rubín.

[re-readingcomics]

Comics Read 08/27- 09/01/2023

The original Mind MGMT written and drawn by Matt Kindt is one of my favorite comic books ever. Reading it was immersive in a way I didn’t think was possible. So naturally I had to get and read Mind MGMT Bootleg. Matt Kindt is still the writer, but here he is joined by an assortment of artists, each drawing an individual issue. In the order of the issue they worked on the artists are Farel Dalrymple, Matt Lesniewski, David Rubín and Jill Thompson. Thompson is the only one with whom I was familiar before reading this. They all have distinct styles, and they all do well with the stories that they are given.

One of the reasons the original Mind MGMT is so exciting is by how it takes advantage of the  format. This included having notes in the margins of the pages, some of which suggested something suspicions about the paper it was printed on, while other pages gave instructions for some kind of impossible craft. This all feels very personal for the writer, and I would imagine the creator. Would something like this carry over when they writer shares his duties with more artists? The answers is sort of. There are not those types of digressions in the sections with the various artists. However, after the main issues there his a script “sample” for people who want to understand how comics get made. Only the scenes in the scripts aren’t actually scenes in the issues and some of the instructions to the are written as if they were within the world of Mind MGMT. Also there are a small, short back of the issue comics that I believe were drawn by Kindt, though they don’t seem to get a distinct credit. (Eventually they’re revealed to be by one of the new characters.)

The plot of Mind MGMT Bootleg involves an attempt to relaunch Mind MGMT, the agency, while also relaunching the comic book series. The agency from the original series was corrupt and dehumanizing to it’s various employees, some of whom return here. But, it seems there are threats right now, such as the amount of pessimism and disinformation out there, that could use the products created by Mind MGMT to combat them. Which leads me, the reader, to have to ask myself; How much do I actually want a relaunch of Mind MGMT?

I didn’t like Kindt’s follow up series as writer and artist, Dept.H as much as I liked Mind MGMT. But I don’t like never ending franchise. There has to be a better reason to go there. 

[smashpages]

This is David Rubín’s variant cover for Black Hammer: The End #1 (Dark Horse, August 2023).

[yexuscomic]

EL DIARIO MONTAÑÉS

[keycomicbooks]

Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #1 (2024) Martin Simmonds Variant / Marcus Parks & Henry Zebrowski Story / David Rubín Pencils / 1st Appearance of Hex, Anwar and Steven Wobang

#OperationSunshineAlreadyDead #1 (2024) #MartinSimmonds Variant / #MarcusParks & #HenryZebrowski Story / #DavidRubín Pencils / 1st Appearance of Hex, Anwar and #StevenWobang Our ragtag group of young, alienated vampires head down to the swamps of Florida to disrupt a nasty ancient vampire party and to put into motion "Operation Sunshine" — their plot to steal a magical object that can turn themselves back to human and put an end to the elder vampires once and for all. Website Link In Bio Page If Applicable. SAVE ON SHIPPING COST - NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICK UP IN DELTONA, FLORIDA https://rarecomicbooks.fashionablewebs.com/Operation%20Sunshine%20Already%20Dead.html  #RareComicBooks #KeyComicBooks #DarkHorse #DarkHorseComics #ComicBooks

[brokehorrorfan]

EC Comics, the influential horror comic company that gave us Tales from the Crypt and more, has been resurrected by Oni Press. Broke Horror Fan has an exclusive first look at the covers for Cruel Universe #3 and Epitaphs from the Abyss #4.

Cruel Universe #3 features work from Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun) and Davíd Rubín (Sherlock Frankenstein), J. Holtham (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Kano (Gotham Central), and Zac Thompson (Cemetery Kids Don’t Die) and Dan McDaid (If You Find This).

It will be published on October 2 with five cover variants: Cover A by Greg Smallwood, Cover B Dave Johnson, EC Homage variant (1:10) by Jay Stephens, Artist Edition variant (1:20) by Johnson, and Archive Edition variant (1:50) by Rian Hughes.

Epitaphs from the Abyss #4 features work from J. Holtham (The Horizon Experiment) and Raúl Allén (Dune), Amy Roy (The Lonely Store) and Claire Roe (Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special), and Jay Stephens (Dwellings) and David Lapham (Stray Bullets).

It will be published on October 16 with five cover variants: Cover A by Lee Bermejo, Cover B James Stokoe, EC Homage variant (1:10) by Jay Stephens, Artist Edition variant (1:20) by Stokoe, and Archive Edition variant (1:50) by Rian Hughes.

Read on to see the rest of the cover variants and learn more about each title.

The world's most existentially devastating comic magazine plumbs new depths as Cruel Universe #3 begins a manned expedition to the extremes of human existence and imagine the terrifying possibilities of what to expect when the best of intentions meet the cold, hard reality of our worst instincts. The world and everything you hold dear within it may be doomed to the cold touch of entropy... but at least you can keep this comic as a souvenir!

Every tombstone tells a tells a tale in Epitaphs from the Abyss #4 – the next unrelenting issue of EC’s flagship horror title! Fueled by the vengeful spirit of the legendary EC Comics, we proudly present all-new tales of the macabre and merciless from some of the top talents with a penchant for dragging you down to the bottom stair of despair!

[fractualized]

Alright, I wanna say more about Joker: The World other than flagging misprints (only one I saw, fyi), so here's a little round-up!

🃏 United States: "Epilogue is Prologue" Writer: Geoff Johns Art: Jason Fabok

Of course we kick off with a Three Jokers epilogue like oh my god why are you doing this to me stop trying to make three Jokers happen Johns what did we ever do to you

For a 6-page story, I could bitch a lot about it, but maybe in a separate post. Generally, it got an eyeroll from me because I am out of patience, but if you're into Three Jokers and/or really love Fabok's art, maybe it'll be one of your reasons to pick this book up.

Anyway, onto something new and engaging!

🃏 Spain: "Spring Break" Writer and Artist: David Rubín

Spain features Joker on a little vacation, with the narration being from a postcard he's writing to Batman. He talks about the corruption of this city, and how it makes him homesick, but not for the reason you'd first expect.

I liked this one! Put it in the plus column!

🃏 Germany: "No Jazz" Writer: Torsten Sträter Artist: Ingo Römling

This is my favorite art! Colorful lil Joker managing his big thugs and throwing them out windows. I had a hard time picking one panel. But besides that, it has a fun story that credits Joker for the conditions at Wacken Open Air, a heavy metal music festival, in 2023. The music is not to his taste. :(

Another plus!

🃏 Italy: "Strategy of Tension" Writer: Enrico Brizzi Artist: Paolo Bacilieri

This one is similar to the Spain story in that we have Joker on a vacation of sorts in Bologna, where he teaches a class on storytelling. His students protest against the government, and after one bloody day, Joker decides the authorities deserve "the fruits of their madness."

More on the philosophical end, had me pondering, another good one.

🃏 Brazil: "City of the Mad, Cemetery of the Living" Writer: Felipe Castilho Artist: Tainan Rocha

Arkham Asylum is franchising, and to prove they can handle the inmates, "Colônia Arkham" in Santana da Mantiqueira is accepting a transfer of the Joker. While there is sentiment against the facility, comparing it to the horrors of Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, there are also crowds outside the new facility to welcome Joker. Joker is basking in his fandom until his barber relates how the old Colônia manufactured madness instead of resolving it.

This is the third story with Joker contemplating horrors and corruption outside himself, and it's refreshing against all the stories where he personally is The Worst Thing Ever. Thumbs up.

🃏 Mexico: "The Wrestler" Writer: Alvaro Fong Varela Artist: Oscar Pinto

In Mexico, we're dropped in the middle of a festival, but the story revolves more around Joker's beef with a local wrestler, Ocelotl. Ocelotl was unable to complete a job for Joker, it seems, and Joker is offended that he sent his son to report the failure instead of appearing himself. And you know things end badly when you've irked Joker.

I'm kind of neutral on this one. I like the art, but the story is middling and drops in a "lesson" for Ocelotl at the end. The Batman stinger gave me a chuckle, though.

[7] Czech Republic: "Kafka, Beer, Semtex" Writer: Štěpán Kopřiva Artist: Michal Suchánek

This is a contender for my favorite story. Candidates for the Czech Joker (shown above) are interviewed by a panel overseen by the original, and each one explains their philosophy behind their crimes. Joker's choice in the end isn't particularly surprising, but the candidate's stories are fun and the art is dynamic.

Plus column!

🃏 Turkey: "Fool's Bootblack" Writer: Metin Akdülger Artist: Ethem Onur Bilgiç

In Istanbul we go back hundreds of years, when Ezekiel Arkham is among the Europeans visiting the city to take pieces of it back home. Like many westerners, he's been invited to a theater performance that night, and the Jester is encouraging his squad of shoe shiners to polish the shoes of all the patrons. The Mad Bat knows he's up to something and sweeps him away for interrogation.

Another neutral. I like the scheme, and I had to laugh when the Mad Bat's attempt to interrogate without a beating fails fast, but the story feels drawn out and the ending didn't really land for me.

🃏 South Korea: "Copycat" Writer: Inpyo Jeon Artist: Jaekwang Park

The Czech Republic tale introduced others taking on Joker's mantle, but this is the first story where other Jokers are fully center stage for a copycat spree in Busan. (And the original Joker does not make a showing.) Our protagonist is a cop who tries and tries to talk them down, but eventually the copycats become familiar with him, turning him into a target.

I'm on the fence about this one. The art is great, but it treats Jokerism like virus which… eh.

🃏 Argentina: "Funeral" Writer: Matías Timarchi Artist: Germán Peralta

In Buenos Aires, the story is also not about Joker. We follow a boy who grows up as part of his father's hooligan gang. He tries to take his father's position, but he's beaten down and not taken seriously— until he finds inspiration in stories of a homicidal clown in Gotham City.

On the fence about this one too. It's interesting how the protag's story isn't so different than the variations we've seen of Joker getting involved in crime early in life, before the vat, but it also leans into the issue of defining Joker more by outlandishness than by humor. You could see Joker himself remarking on that difference, but the story ends before that opportunity.

🃏 Cameroon: "Black Therapy" Writer: Dr. Ejob Gaius Artist: Bertrand Mbozo'o Zeh

In Cameroon, the protagonist already works as a clown, and he's frustrated by the lack of respect he receive in his community. But he's guided by a book, ominously titled Breaking the Chains of the Mind, into searching for the moment he can claim his salvation.

I had trouble connecting the dots on some details in this one. It's also another "spreading Jokerism" story that leaves me with more questions than the South Korea story. Joker is actually involved in this case, so it's part of a plan and not a virus, but… what is the plan? I don't think any of these stories are slotted for continuation, so it's just a case where it ends and you're like, well OK, I guess those answers are never coming.

🃏 Poland: "The Royal Jester" Writer: Tomasz Kołodziejczak Artist: Jacek Michalski

In Wawel Castle, Joker admires the painting of Stańczyk, from one of those memes you kids like. After the tour guide explains the painting's significance, Joker lingers behind to steal it, but he's foiled by Zawisza, a Black Knight with less patience for the clown than the Dark Knight.

It was nice to dig back into Joker himself as the book nears its close. His reasoning for why he finds the painting so attractive that he traveled to Poland is as lofty as you'd expect for him. There's more scene setting than necessary at the start, but by the end, I really liked this one.

🃏 Japan: "The Unfunny Joke" (Chapter 1 of Joker: One Operation Joker) Writer: Satoshi Miyagawa Artist: Keisuke Gotou

It's disappointing that this anthology closes with a reprint instead of a new story. And I've read all of One Operation Joker! I had a good time! But come oonnnnnn.

That said, look, you got Joker trying to care for Baby Batman. What better silliness and unexpected heartwarmth could you want?

🃏

Unevenness aside, I liked seeing these takes on Joker from writers across the world, whether they were about the character himself or the way his influence may reach far beyond Gotham City. (Except for the Three Jokers thing. Stop it. Stop it.) If you're a Joker fan, I say pick this book up.

And maybe I'll finally read the entirety of Batman: The World now! After I finish going through the Duke Thomas comics. And finally get back to Batman RIP. Ohhh and I still gotta start Knightfall! And

[theblackestofsuns]

“It Hurts!”

MIND MGMT: Bootleg #3 (September 2022)

Matt Kindt and David Rubín

Dark Horse Comics

[comicbookclub]

Dark Horse Preview: Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #1

Read a preview of Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #1 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks, with art by David Rubin.

[comicbookclublive]

Dark Horse Preview: Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #1

Read a preview of Operation Sunshine: Already Dead #1 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks, with art by David Rubin.

[squarehead333]

"El Aeroplano Loco" ('The Crazy Aeroplane') by Juanjo el Rápido, from the first issue of Idiota y Diminuto ('Tiny and Idiotic'), 1997. Idiota was a comics-focused magazine published by the Asociación Cultural La Más Bella, a collective founded by Pepe Murciego, Diego Ortiz and Juanjo el Rápido. Their first venture was to publish the experimental comics zine La Más Bella ('The Most Beautiful'), beginning in 1993. It was one of the only comics magazines to come out of Madrid during the nineties, which proved a barren decade for Spanish comics. The bubble burst following on from a golden age (roughly 1975-1988) of Spanish comics proved catastrophic. The '90s comics industry in Spain was so bad that the government encouraged talented cartoonists like Rubén Pellejero (the artist for Dieter Lumpen) to leave the country for France, where comics were thriving. David Rubín dubbed it "la época de la mierda" or 'the era of shit.'

The magazine was a home not only for cartoonists emerging during the '90s, but also for those creators who had already emerged, albeit too late in the '80s to cement themselves in any particular scene. Isidro Ferrer and Juan Berrio are examples of this: they contributed to the Zaragozan Madriz copycat TVO and to one or two late issues of Madriz itself. Juanjo el Rápido was one of the former (his first published comic was in 1993, in the first issue of La Más Bella) but the influence of Madrilenian cartoonists like Javier de Juan, Ana Miralles (both regulars of Madriz), El Hortelano and Ceesepe is strong. The seemingly random appearance of Mickey Mouse in the last panel is not so unusual: the cartoonists of La Más Bella were just as, maybe even more, postmodern than their Madriz predecessors―Goku makes a cameo in La Más Bella's magazine's first issue―but it was more David Foster Wallace and less Thomas Pynchon, more cynicism and less sincerity for a time in Spanish comics that did not inspire optimism.

[smashpages]

Oni Press has revealed their Spring 2025 graphic novel line-up, which includes El Fuego, an OGN written and drawn by David Rubín, who has worked on Cosmic Detective, the Black Hammer universe titles and more.

El Fuego is a psychological, philosophical, and geographical odyssey through the last remaining days of planet Earth. It is the story of one particular inhabitant, who must decide how much more of himself to give to the greater good before truly finding peace within.

Read more

[ttantta]

Hay que fascinar. Esa es la clave.

David Rubín entrevistado en jotdown.es 24.08