I Reads You Review: HELLBOY II THE GOLDEN ARMY

Author: Robert Greenberger
Publishing Information: Dark Horse Books, paperback, 268 pages, $6.99 (US)
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-59307-954-3 (ISBN-13)

You didn’t know it until now, but I thought Hellboy II: The Golden Army was the best comic book movie of 2008 – even better than The Dark Knight, which I was crazy about. I also consider Hellboy II to be the second best movie of 2008 (behind the brilliant WALL-E).

As is often the case with science fiction and fantasy movies, a novelization of Hellboy II’s screenplay accompanied the release of the film. Hellboy II The Golden Army may only be a tie-in novel, but it captures Hellboy II director, Guillermo del Toro’s uncompromising vision. Author Robert Greenberger adapts del Toro’s script (written from a story created by del Toro and Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola), transforming an unusual summer event movie into something like a summer potboiler novel.

Like the movie, the book opens with a young Hellboy enjoying a bedtime story told by his adoptive father, Trevor Broom. The story, a kind of fairy tail, involves an ancient war between mankind (the Sons of Adam) and magical creatures (the Sons of the Earth), started by Man’s greed. After the humans initially defeat the forces of the magical creatures, King Balor, the one-armed King of the Elves, commissions the goblins to build him an indestructible army. They do, the Golden Army, an indestructible mechanical army. The Golden Army devastates the human forces to the point that the bloodshed leads Balor to call a truce. Mankind agrees to stay in their cities, while the forests would belong to the magical creatures.

Cut to modern times, and the truce is broken. Balor’s son, Prince Nuada, declares war on humanity and searches for the missing pieces of a golden crown that will give the wearer control of the Golden Army, which slumbers in a secret location. All that stands between annihilation and mankind is Hellboy and the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.), and both are in a state of turmoil.

Hellboy and his girlfriend, Liz, are having relationship issues. Hellboy and Tom Manning, the F.B.I.’s liaison to the B.P.R.D., are clashing because Hellboy wants the world to know that he exists, while Manning lives to keep Hellboy’s existence a secret from the public at large. However, Hellboy and company meet Nuada’s identical twin sister, Nuala, which forces them to focus on Nuada’s war. Meanwhile, amphibian B.P.R.D. agent, Abe Sapien surprisingly has romantic feelings for Nuala, and Washington D.C. sends a new agent, the ectoplasmic medium Johann Krauss, to take command of the B.P.R.D. Now, these outcasts must come together to stop the unstoppable – the Golden Army.

Using straight-forward and rather plain prose, Robert Greenberg conjures the creepy Gothic and weird rococo world of Hellboy II – from the exciting action to the fantastic realms and peculiar creatures that inhabit them. For anyone who has seen the film, the novelization is a good way to relive the fun. This isn’t a great fantasy novel; it is simply something that readers don’t always find – a prose adaptation that is worthy of the original film.

Comicpalooza to Benefit Hero Initiative

Press release:

Comicpalooza National Comic Book Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative

Houston, TX – Oct. 7, 2010– The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is a charity event in which comic book and manga artists across the nation will flash their mad art skills to the whole world by drawing, sketching, and painting while the public watches. The gathered comic and anime fans can bid on their favorite pieces of art as they are finished. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Hero Initiative.

The ‘Fest will take place simultaneously in all participating cities on January 22, 2011. These events will be held with the cooperation of arts organizations in each community. Currently, confirmed cities include Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Baton Rouge. Organizations that wish to participate in the Comcipalooza National Live Art Fest may request more information by sending an email to LiveArt@comicpalooza.com. Comicpalooza will accept additional arts organizations as partners in cities until Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.

The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is sponsored in part by Blue Line Pro, one of the largest manufacturers of professional comic art supplies.

The Hero Initiative is a publicly supported not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation created to provide assistance to yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Comicpalooza (Trademark pending) is an annual multi-genre convention held in Houston, Texas, and features comics, sci-fi, anime, horror, steampunk, New Media, film, and celebrities. The next Comicpalooza will be held March 26-28, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Sponsors for Comicpalooza include the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, FUNimation, and the Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP).

Startling Events, LLC is the organizing events company for Comicpalooza. Startling Events, LLC is incorporated in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston, Texas.

Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative
Event name: Comicpalooza
Event date: Jan 22, 2011
Convention date: May 27-29, 2011
http://www.comicpalooza.com/
www.twitter.com/comicpalooza
www.facebook.com/comicpalooza

DarkBrain Seeks Submissions

Press release:

DARKBRAIN - A NEW PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT COMICS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS

October 26, 2010: DarkBrain.com is an edgy web comic studio that produces graphic novels (PG-13 and R-rated) with voice-over narration and music. With over 300 pages of content, all free for readers, DarkBrain has attracted over 22,000 readers in the last two months alone with its recent release of “Church of One” featuring the voice talents of Tabitha Stevens, Raylene and Tony Campos. Now, DarkBrain is looking for some Independent Comics to partner with.

DarkBrain is looking for titles that fit our brand - edgy sci-fi/ fantasy /drama /horror – all with stories that will entice and amaze people. All stories must have an R-rated version that we tone down for our pg-13 readers. Each title that is selected must match the quality of art of our current titles, and be unique and interesting. DarkBrain is looking for a run of issues to appear on DarkBrain.com, and we will add in our voice talent, original music, flash assembly, and comic hosting. Independent Comic producers can have their titles already in print and they will retain all rights to their property.

Through this new partnership, accepted web comic stories will then be exposed to thousands of new users, for free, and include link-outs and promotional information for the Independent Comic partner. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure and to showcase the comics in a new and exciting format, unlike any other web comics. Independent properties with merchandise, printed issues, websites and other web comic versions are welcome as it helps maximize the value of the relationship for the Independent comic owner.

All applicants are expected to have read DarkBrain comics and understand our brand. All partners must have existing art and stories for review of the series being presented - and should be able to sustain a run of 4 or more issues, with approximately 20 pages each issue. We will also accept one-shot issues if the story and art are incredible. The partnership is a shared relationship where the Independent partner funds and provides the art and script and DarkBrain funds and provides the voice, music, flash, script editing and hosting. Both parties share the royalties of the web comics. DarkBrain has only a few slots open for new titles in the 2011 schedule and we are going to be very selective on which partners we choose.

Interested parties can contact AndrewZar@DarkBrain.com.

Champion City Comics Celebrates Anniversary

Press release:

Champion City Comics Celebrates Their One Year Anniversary

Kalamazoo, MI, October 29, 2010 – Champion City Comics was launched in October of 2009 and featured one webcomic with a small following. One year later, Champion City Comics features nine webcomics along with an impressive worldwide readership.

Founded by TonyDoug Wright, Champion City Comics is a webcomics community fueled by a do-it-yourself philosophy. Our genres include gritty crime tales (The End of Paradise, The Champion City Fire, Point of Conflict, and 4x4), comedies (Phoebe & Eddie and Johnny Knuckles), superhero tales (Vigilance), and science-fiction tales (Naira and Westwood).

The success of Champion City Comics is due to the hard work and dedication of the following writers and artists: A. Kaviraj, Joseph Haemmerle, Victor Pozzi, Joe ‘Pohgo’ Pruitt, Andrew J, Michael Watson, Giovanni Ballati, and Christopher Alvarez.

By the end of this year, Champion City Comics will launch two webcomics titled …And We Formed A Band (A rock and roll extravaganza) and Day 165 (An Afghanistan War story).

We also would like to thank our loyal readers and we promise to deliver more great webcomics in the future.

All web-comics are available for view at http://www.championcitycomics.com/.

Help "Essex County" Make the Top 10

Press release:

ESSEX COUNTY named one of Canada Reads' Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!

Now we need your help to push it over the top!

Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy, now collected into a single beautiful volume, is more than just a great graphic novel. It's a love letter to the farms of Essex County where Jeff grew up, to the wider province of Ontario in both its urban and rural communities, and to the nation of Canada as a whole -- its wintry cold and human warmth, its love of hockey, and its rich history.

That's why it's been named one of the 40 novels honored by the CBC's prestigious Canada Reads program -- i.e. the Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade! And that's not all: you can head to the Canada Reads web site, now through November 7, and vote for your pick for the final Top 10 list! Anyone with a web browser is eligible to vote, so head over there, check out all the great nominees, and make your voices heard!

Let's rally as a comics community to put a graphic novel in the Top 10! Vote here: http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/

Stumptown Comics Fest 2011 Adds Eric Powell

Press release:

MORE GUESTS ADDED TO LINEUP FOR STUMPTOWN COMICS FEST 2011

PORTLAND, OR - Just in time for Halloween, Stumptown Comics Fest is pleased to announce some spooky additions to our guest lineup for 2011. We will be joined by writer and self-taught artist Eric Powell, creator of The Goon, as well as locals Lukas Ketner and Brandon Seifert, whose self published comic Witch Doctor was signed as the premier title for Skybound Comics.

Previously announced guests include Kurt Busiek (writer for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image), Molly Crabapple (illustrator, founder of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School), Barry Deutsch (Hereville), Larry Marder (Tales of the Beanworld), and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder).

The 8th annual Stumptown Comics Fest will take place on April 16th and 17th at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. For continuing updates regarding the event, head to the official website at http://www.stumptowncomicsfest.com/

Hikaru No Go Great Expectations

I read Hikaru no Go, Vol. 21 (Hikaru No Go (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

Ben McCool Presents "Memoir"

AT A LOSS

 

CHOKER scribe imagines an amnesiac small town in new miniseries from Image Comics

 

In January 2011, Ben McCool, the creative mastermind behind CHOKER, teams up with brilliant artist Nikki Cook (Girl Comics, DMZ) for a haunting tale of mystery and memory loss.

McCool explains, "MEMOIR is a mysterious match up of Twin Peaks and the Twilight Zone, featuring a town devoid of memory, an eager journalist looking to exploit it, and a strange young girl watching over everything -- a young girl who claims to be the daughter of God."

"There'll be plenty of twists and turns as the truth behind Lowesville's surreptitious past is revealed, and with Nikki Cook's exquisite art bringing it all to life, I think MEMOIR is a must-read mini-series for early 2011!" he adds.

The setting of MEMOIR, Lowesville, is a small town in the American Midwest, peaceful and quaint. But one morning the population awakens with no idea of who they are, where they are, or what's happened. The town's memory has been completely erased. All except for the mind of one man... He remembers everything.

MEMOIR #1 (of 6) (NOV100409), a 32-page black-and-white comic book featuring a cover by John Cassaday (Planetary, Captain America), will be in stores January 19, 2011, for $3.50.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

The Walking Dead Reprint Series is Weekly in 2011

THE DEAD WALK EACH WEEK IN 2011

 

Image Comics announces THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY and new Omnibus

 

Are you excited about THE WALKING DEAD on AMC, but you've never had the chance to read the hit comic book series that inspired it? Starting in January 2011, Image Comics will be reprinting the single issues of the hit series -- shipping one issue per week all year long!

"Keeping a series like this going year after year is all about creating good jumping-on-points for new readers," says series creator and writer Robert Kirkman. "And what better way to jump on than with the very first issue? Making this series available in single issue form will make it easier for new fans to jump on board and for old fans to fill in any gaps in their collection."

January will see the release of the following issues:

THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #1
January 5

Starting in this issue, Rick Grimes awakens to a world he's not prepared for. This small town cop must now fight the forces of the undead while he searches for his missing wife and son. This is the issue that started it all!

THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #2
January 12

Rick Grime's horrific adventure continues. Everything he knew is gone, and the search for his family begins. Rick sets out for Atlanta, the last known location of his wife and son.

THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #3
January 19

Now reunited with his family, Rick Grime's focus shifts from survival to protection. It's one thing to know that you have to watch your back every second of every day. It's another thing entirely to have to worry about losing your family in the blink of an eye.

THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #4
January 26

It is decided that in order to survive... every person at the camp should have guns. As it is, they don't have enough to go around and the only place to get more guns is the city, but it means certain death to go into the city. Is Rick crazy enough to risk his life for the good of the camp?

You will also be able to pick up THE WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS, VOL. 3 in January 2011. Collecting issues #49-72, the OMNIBUS is a deluxe oversized and slipcased hardcover. It's perfect for long time fans, new readers and anyone needing a heavy object with which to fend off the walking dead. The omnibus is strictly limited to a print run of 3000.

THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLIES (#1: NOV100410; #2: NOV100411; #3: NOV100412; #4: NOV100413), each a 32-page black-and-white comic book for $2.99, will be in stores each Wednesday of January 2011. THE WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS, VOL. 3 (regular edition: NOV100442, $100; signed and numbered edition: NOV100443, $150), a 560-page oversized slipcased hardcover, will be in stores January 5, 2011.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

VIZ Kids Welcomes Panda Man and Taro in November

TWO NOVEMBER RELEASES FROM VIZ KIDS

 

PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL Combine Stories of Fun and Mischief with Brain Tickling Puzzles and Games

 

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, gives younger readers something to look forward to with the release of PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL on November 2nd.

PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE!, TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL, and the subsequent books in each series, were created to tap into every child's sense of play. The new titles, recommended for readers ages 6 years or older and part of the VIZ Kids imprint, tell the stories of a flatulent panda and a brave little pup. Each book offers a unique reading experience, mixing comic book elements with traditional prose. In addition, readers solve mazes, puzzles and riddles to move the stories along.

"We are really excited to offer these two new series," said Traci Todd, Senior Editor, Children’s Publishing. "PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE! and TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL are good, silly fun mixed with a lot of heart."

THE ADVENTURES OF PANDA MAN: PANDA MAN TO THE RESCUE • MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN • Available November 2nd

Boing Oing! It's Panda Man, a roly-poly hero with a bottomless belly and the power of pee-yew! Evil villains are no match for our hero's funky feet and flatulence, but he still needs your help! Together you can solve the mazes and puzzles that stand between Panda Man and ultimate justice...or his next meal. Whichever comes first!

THE ADVENTURES OF TARO: TARO AND THE MAGIC PENCIL • MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN • Available November 2nd

Before his comic book drawings came to life, Taro was an ordinary boy. Now his characters are in danger, and it's up to him to save them! With the flick of a magic pencil, Taro transforms into Terrie (a terrier) and enters his comic book world. The adventures ahead are more amazing than anything he ever imagined!

VIZ Kids titles offer engaging manga and manga-related content intended specifically for a younger audience. All VIZ Kids products share the same core values of strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and lots of good humor that will delight a whole new generation of readers.

For more information on these or other VIZ Kids titles, please visit http://www.vizkids.com/.

Bluewater Productions Signs with Talent Agency

APA SIGNS BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS

 

Bluewater Productions, a full-service publishing and production company that specializes in comic books, graphic novels and Multimedia, has signed with APA (Agency for the Performing Arts) for representation for television, film, videogames and branding.

Known as one of the top graphic novel production companies, Bluewater pairs high quality art with stories ranging from classic myths to Hollywood legends, melding comic books with the diverse multimedia marketplace. Bluewater president Darren G. Davis has experienced enormous success over the past 15 years in Media Design with such titles as "10th Muse," known as the sixth highest selling comic in 2001, "VSS," and "Legend of Isis," as well as their newest venture into biography comics with "Fame," "Female Force," and "Political Power."

Bluewater maintains impressive media partnerships with such notables as Adam West, William Shatner, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures and Dreamworks. Currently, Bluewater is set NBC/Universal on "10th Muse." APA will work with Bluewater to market graphic novels and comic book material to established TV, feature and video game companies, as well as other ancillary business that are organic fits for the brand.

"We are very excited to be represented by Steve Fisher & Debbie Deuble from APA," said publisher, Darren G. Davis, "We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship."


About APA:
An industry leader in the field of talent and literary representation for nearly fifty years, APA represents many of today's most talented artists in all areas of the entertainment industry, with principal offices in Beverly Hills, New York and Nashville.

Unique in the industry, APA believes that there should be no delineation between Film, Television and Theatre. Our artists, including Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winning talent, are able to move from features to television series to Broadway at any given moment. Consistently one of the top booking agencies in the country, APA's concert and comedy departments represent a diverse slate of clients from all over the world. Our comedy roster includes some of today's hottest comedians and talk show hosts. APA's many concert-recording artists and stand-up comedians also cross over into other mediums. Our literary department boasts an impressive list of established screenwriters, directors, executive producers and novelists, and is at the forefront of packaging some of the most successful and critically acclaimed shows on the air.

For more information, visit www.apa-agency.com/

About Bluewater Productions
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” ”Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“TekWar Chronicles”), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars,” “Jason and the Argonauts,” et al) and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers.

For more information, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com/.

R. Crumb's Sweet Side

I read The Sweeter Side of R. Crumb

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has those FREE smart phone apps).  This is a slim collection of drawings and illustrations from the great comix creator.

The Walking Dead at Long Beach Comic-Con 2010

CALLING ALL ZOMBIES!

Visit Image Comics at LBCC 2010 for a chance to win The Walking Dead prize package!

Halloween weekend fast approaches, and with it, the premiere of THE WALKING DEAD on AMC and Long Beach Comic-Con 2010!

Image Comics will be on hand during LBCC at booth #218 with exclusive Walking Dead gear. To celebrate the launch of THE WALKING DEAD television series, anyone who visits the Image Booth dressed as a zombie will get a chance to win a Waking Dead prize package!

One lucky zombie will get to take home the following:
• THE WALKING DEAD hardcovers, books 1-6
• THE WALKING DEAD 2011 calendar
• THE WALKING DEAD #78 LBCC variant cover
• THE WALKING DEAD t-shirt
• THE WALKING DEAD hat
• THE WALKING DEAD plush doll with removable head

Contestants are entered in a raffle each time they visit the Image Comics booth in full zombie makeup. The winner will be picked by random drawing on Sunday, October 31, at 2:00 p.m. by STEVEN YEUN, who plays fan-favorite Glenn on THE WALKING DEAD television show!

Zombies: Don't miss your chance to take home THE WALKING DEAD by visiting Image Comics booth #218 at Long Beach Comic-Con 2010!

CONTEST RULES: Entrants must present themselves in full zombie costume to be eligible for contest. One entry per person per visit to Image Comics booth #218 during show hours of Long Beach Comic-Con, October 29-31, 2010. No purchase necessary. Prize package will be awarded by random drawing on October 31, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. Entrants must be present to win.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Hotwire: Deep Cut #2 Now Available

HOTWIRE: DEEP CUT #2 (2 of 3)

 

Created by STEVE PUGH and WARREN ELLIS

Writer and Illustrator STEVE PUGH
Letterer STEVE PUGH
Cover Artist STEVE PUGH

Diamond Order Code: JUL101105
Price: $3.50
Page Count: 32
Format: Full Color

While Bertus Rantz and his private security contractors investigate a crash, Detective Exorcist Alice Hotwire cools her heels in a detention cell - only to emerge to the cheers of her co-workers in the police force. As Alice avoids her fellow officers and deals with a rampaging Rantz as well as her paranormal ex-boyfriend, a blue-light housed in a robotic body has taken one of the crash victims on her own accord…but for what purpose? Can Hotwire and Mobey uncover the truth of the car crash and discover the identity of this mysterious entity before Rantz finishes his crusade against all blue-lights?

Vagabond Finds Himself

I read Vagabond, Vol. 33

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

DC COMICS


AUG100158 ACTION COMICS #894 $3.99

JUN100205 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM HC VOL 02 LEVIATHAN $19.99

AUG100219 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #22 $2.99

AUG100218 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #21 $2.99

AUG100141 BRUCE WAYNE THE ROAD HOME ORACLE #1 $2.99

AUG100142 BRUCE WAYNE THE ROAD HOME RAS AL GHUL #1 $2.99

AUG100192 DC COMICS PRESENTS SUPERMAN #1 $7.99

AUG100195 DC COMICS PRESENTS YOUNG JUSTICE #1 $7.99

AUG100151 DETECTIVE COMICS #870 $3.99

AUG100244 FRINGE TALES FROM THE FRINGE #5 (OF 6) $3.99

AUG100123 GREEN ARROW #5 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

JUL100197 GREEN LANTERN CHRONICLES TP VOL 03 $14.99

FEB100310 GREEN LANTERN GOLDEN AGE 1/6 SCALE FIGURE $99.99

AUG100176 JLA THE 99 #1 (OF 6) $3.99

JUL100196 JONAH HEX COUNTING CORPSES TP $14.99

JUL100198 JSA ALL STARS CONSTELLATIONS TP $14.99

AUG100127 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #12 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

AUG100177 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #44 $2.99

AUG100224 MAD MAGAZINE #506 $5.99

AUG100160 SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #2 $4.99

AUG100156 SUPERMAN #704 $2.99

JUN100127 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC $19.99

AUG100109 TEEN TITANS #88 $3.99

AUG100175 TIME MASTERS VANISHING POINT #4 (OF 6) $3.99

AUG100227 WILDCATS #28 $2.99

AUG100187 WONDER WOMAN #604 $2.99

JUN100256 WORLD OF WARCRAFT HC VOL 04 $19.99

AUG100185 ZATANNA #6 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

MARVEL COMICS

AUG100555 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #646 $2.99

FEB100596 ASTONISHING X-MEN EXOGENETIC PREM HC $19.99

AUG100562 AVENGERS #6 $3.99

AUG100572 AVENGERS & INFINITY GAUNTLET #3 (OF 4) $2.99

AUG100574 AVENGERS VS PET AVENGERS #1 (OF 4) $2.99

AUG100575 BLACK WIDOW #7 $2.99

AUG100577 CAPTAIN AMERICA #611 $3.99

AUG100580 CAPTAIN AMERICA PATRIOT #3 (OF 4) $3.99

MAY100673 CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE HC $39.99

AUG100546 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #888 $2.99

AUG100677 DOOMWAR HC $24.99

AUG108172 FANTASTIC FOUR #583 2ND PTG EPTING VAR (PP #940) $2.99

AUG100594 FANTASTIC FOUR #584 THREE $2.99

AUG100686 FANTASTIC FOUR BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 03 $19.99

AUG100712HULK WORLD WAR HULKS TP HULKED-OUT HEROES (RES) $19.99

AUG100684 INCREDIBLE HULK PREM HC VOL 03 WORLD WAR HULKS $19.99

AUG108115 INCREDIBLE HULKS #612 2ND PTG RANEY VAR (PP #939) $3.99

AUG100602 INCREDIBLE HULKS #615 $3.99

AUG100603 INCREDIBLE HULKS ENIGMA FORCE #2 (OF 3) $3.99

AUG100613 KLAWS OF PANTHER #2 (OF 4) $3.99

MAY100686 MARVEL UNIVERSE END PREM HC $29.99

MAY100687 MARVEL UNIVERSE END PREM HC DM VAR ED 52 $29.99

AUG100673 MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 05 $24.99

AUG100674 MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 05 DM VAR ED 22 $24.99

MAY100660 MMW ATLAS ERA JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY HC VOL 03 $59.99

MAY100661 MMW ATLAS ERA JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY HC VOL 03 DM VAR $59.99

AUG100563 SECRET AVENGERS #6 $3.99

AUG100619 SECRET WARRIORS #21 $2.99

AUG100691 SECRET WARRIORS PREM HC VOL 04 LAST RIDE $19.99

AUG100592 SHADOWLAND MOON KNIGHT #3 (OF 3) SL $3.99

AUG100560 SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #4 (OF 4) $3.99

AUG100707 SPIDER-MAN PETER PARKER TP $14.99

JUL108034 SPIDER-MAN SAGA PI

AUG100561 SPIDER-MAN VS VAMPIRES #1 $3.99

AUG108181 THOR #615 2ND PTG FERRY VAR (PP #940) PI

AUG100589 THUNDERBOLTS #149 SL $2.99

AUG100547 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 3 #3 (OF 6) $3.99

AUG100548 ULTIMATE COMICS MYSTERY #4 (OF 4) $3.99

AUG100549 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #15 $3.99

AUG100721 UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 POSTER $8.99

AUG100646 UNCANNY X-MEN #529 $3.99

AUG108114 X-23 #1 2ND PTG CONRAD VAR (PP #939) $3.99

AUG100714 X-FACTOR FOREVER TP $19.99

AUG100645 X-MEN CURSE OF MUTANTS X-MEN VS VAMPIRES #2 (OF 2) $3.99

AUG100655 X-MEN FOREVER 2 #10 $3.99

AUG100648 X-MEN LEGACY #241 $2.99

AUG100699 X-MEN NATION X TP $29.99

IDW from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG100335 ANGEL #38 $3.99

AUG100379 FALLING FOR LIONHEART GN $19.99

AUG100305 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #252 $12.99

AUG100311 GI JOE COBRA II #9 $3.99

AUG100370 KILL SHAKESPEARE #6 (OF 12) $3.99

AUG100341 STAR TREK LEONARD MCCOY FRONTIER DOCTOR TP VOL 01 $17.99

JUL100364 TOP 100 HORROR MOVIES SC $24.99

AUG100319 TRANSFORMERS SECTOR 7 #2 (OF 6) $3.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG100025 BEASTS OF BURDEN HELLBOY ONE SHOT JILL THOMPSON CVR $3.50

AUG100036 BILLY THE KID GHASTLY FIEND LONDON #2 ERIC POWELL CVR $3.99

APR100058 CREEPY COMICS #4 $4.99

AUG100080 DOMO QEE 7 INCH GLITTER $59.99

JUL100042 FEAR AGENT #30 OUT OF STEP (PT 3 OF 5) $3.50

JUL100085 FRANK MILLER XERXES LITHOGRAPH $25.00

JUL100086 FRANK MILLER XERXES LITHOGRAPH LTD ED $100.00

MAY100062 NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 06 $9.99

AUG100013 STAR WARS BLOOD TIES TALE JANGO & BOBA FETT #3 (OF 4) $3.50

AUG100015 STAR WARS INVASION RESCUES #5 (OF 6) $2.99

AUG100055 TERMINATOR 1984 #2 (OF 3) $3.50

SEP100106 USAGI YOJIMBO #132 TAIKO PT 1 (OF 2) $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

IMAGE COMICS

AUG108192 ARTIFACTS #2 2ND PTG VAR CVR SOOK B&W (PP #940) $3.99

JUL100427 DAWN 2011 CALENDAR $16.99

AUG100476 DYNAMO 5 SINS OF THE FATHER #5 (OF 5) $3.99

AUG100429 IMAGE FIRSTS DEAD AT 17 $1.00

AUG100428 IMAGE FIRSTS HACK SLASH $1.00

AUG100488 SAVAGE DRAGON #165 $3.50

AUG108191 SKULLKICKERS #1 VAR CVR 3RD PTG (PP #940) $2.99

APR100475 WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF #5 $3.50

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for October 27 2010

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
SEP101677 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #129 PI
SEP100001 PREVIEWS #266 NOVEMBER 2010 PI

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
SEP100734 WIZARD MAGAZINE #232 $5.99

COMICS

JUN100815 10TH MUSE LOST ISSUE #2 $3.99

JUL100840 10TH MUSE LOST ISSUE #3 $3.99

JUL101116 AMELIA RULES HC VOL 06 TRUE THINGS $18.99

AUG101155 ANIMAL ACADEMY GN VOL 06 (OF 7) HAKOBUNE HAKUSHO $10.99

AUG100776 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #213 $3.99

AUG100969 ARISA GN VOL 01 $10.99

AUG100845 BART SIMPSON COMICS #56 $2.99

AUG100774 BETTY & VERONICA #250 $2.99

JUN101064 BIONICLE BOX SET VOL 5 - 9 $39.99

AUG100965 BLACKBEARD LEGEND OF THE PYRATE KING #6 $3.99

AUG100970 CODE BREAKER GN VOL 02 $10.99

MAR100880 DEAN KOONTZS FEAR NOTHING GN VOL 01 (RES) $14.99

AUG100999 DF HULK #600 ROSS VAR EXC PACK $14.99

JUL100865 DO ANDROIDS DREAM DUST TO DUST #6 (OF 8) $3.99

MAY101104 DOCTOR WHO ONLY GOOD DALEK GN $20.99

AUG101141 DOT HACK LINK GN VOL 02 (OF 3) $10.99

AUG100857 DRACULA COMPANY OF MONSTERS #3 $3.99

JUL101071 DUNGEON MONSTRES GN VOL 03 HEARTBREAKER $12.99

JUN101109 EPIC CHRONICLES OF HAGAR THE HORRIBLE HC 1974-75 $19.95

AUG100971 FAIRY NAVIGATOR RUNA GN VOL 02 $10.99

JUL100844 FAME DAVID BECKHAM $3.99

JUN100818 FAME FLIP ED #1 KRISTEN STEWART ROBERT PATTINSON $6.99

JUN100816 FAME TAYLOR LAUTNER $3.99

JUN100819 FEMALE FORCE CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY $3.99

JUL100845 FEMALE FORCE MEREDITH VIEIRA $3.99

AUG100892 FINDING NEMO LOSING DORY #4 $2.99

AUG101099 GERONIMO STILTON HC VOL 06 $9.99

AUG101241 GFT HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2010 A CVR RIO $5.99

AUG101242 GFT HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2010 B CVR JONES $5.99

AUG100740 GOLD DIGGER #122 $2.99

AUG100741 GOLD DIGGER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2010 $3.99

AUG101006 GRAPHIC CLASSICS GN VOL 19 CHRISTMAS CLASSICS $17.95

AUG100925 GREEN HORNET BLOOD TIES #1 $3.99

SEP101104 H DAY HC $30.00

AUG101152 HAPPY CAFE GN VOL 05 (OF 14) $10.99

AUG100972 HELL GIRL GN VOL 07 /8/9 $21.99

JUL101105 HOTWIRE DEEP CUT #2 (OF 3) $3.50

AUG100862 INCORRUPTIBLE #11 $3.99

AUG100893 INCREDIBLES #15 $2.99

SEP101116 INUKAMI OMNIBUS GN VOL 01 (OF 2) $9.99

JAN100786 LEGEND OF ISIS (BLUEWATER) #11 $3.99

APR100800 LEGEND OF ISIS BLACK SCORPION (ONE SHOT) $3.99

SEP100905 LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK COMPANION HC $24.99

AUG100894 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #301 $2.99

JUN100824 NANNY & HANK #1 $3.99

AUG100960 PAT LEE WIDOW WARRIORS #4 $3.99

JUL100956 PRINCE OF PERSIA #4 (OF 4) $3.99

SEP101117 RED STRING TP VOL 05 $9.95

AUG100847 SIMPSONS CLASSICS #26 $3.99

AUG101236 SINBAD #13 A CVR DIEGO (RES) $2.99

AUG101237 SINBAD #13 B CVR BONK $2.99

AUG101028 SKY PIRATES VALENDOR GN $15.00

JUL100788 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #218 $2.99

AUG101150 STELLAR SIX GINGACHO GN VOL 01 (OF 10) $10.99

AUG101149 SUMMONER GIRL GN VOL 01 (OF 3) $10.99

JUL101082 TICK NEW SERIES #6 $4.95

SEP101123 TORCHWOOD #4 $3.99

JUL100898 TOY STORY SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED TP $9.99

AUG101153 VB ROSE GN VOL 10 (OF 14) $10.99

AUG101143 WARCRAFT ESSENTIAL SUNWELL COLLECTION GN $19.99

AUG101294 WHY BECAUSE WE STILL LIKE YOU ORAL HIST OF MOUSE CLUB HC $25.99

AUG100976 XXXHOLIC GN VOL 16 $10.99

JUL101011 ZABIME SISTERS GN $16.99

MAGAZINES

SEP101283 CEREAL GEEK MAGAZINE #6 $15.00

AUG101350 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 41 $14.95

JUN101278 GOTHIC & LOLITA BIBLE #35 $28.99

JUN101279 HOBBY JAPAN SEP 2010 $12.99

JUN101225 ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #31 $15.00

JUN101234 LEES TOY REVIEW #214 OCT 2010 $5.95

AUG101355 STAR WARS INSIDER #121 NEWSSTAND ED $5.99

AUG101356 STAR WARS INSIDER #121 PX ED $5.99

AUG101339 VIDEO WATCHDOG #159 $8.95

Steven Yeun of "The Walking Dead" TV Series at Long Beach Comic-Con

THE DEAD WALK AT LBCC 2010

 

Image Comics announces exclusive signing with THE WALKING DEAD's Steven Yeun at Long Beach Comic-Con

 

He plays everyone's favorite THE WALKING DEAD character -- Glenn -- on AMC's new hit series, and Image Comics is pleased to announce that STEVEN YEUN will be joining them for an exclusive appearance during Long Beach Comic-Con 2010!

 

Appearing Sunday, October 31, only, Yeun will be signing at Image Comics booth #218 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The signing is ticketed. Starting at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at booth #218. One ticket per person. Each person in line will get a free copy of THE WALKING DEAD #75!

In THE WALKING DEAD, a comic series created and written by Robert Kirkman (INVINCIBLE, THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN) with art by Charlie Adlard, an epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. Rick Grimes finds himself one of the few survivors in this terrifying future. Separated from his family, he must now sort through all the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son.

The AMC TV series based on THE WALKING DEAD comic book debuts October 31, 2010. Yeun plays fan-favorite Glenn, an adaptable and clever young man who has a talent for scavenging supplies from even the most zombie-infested areas.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in the city of Troy, Michigan, Yeun began his foray into acting while studying psychology at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After seeing a performance of the school's improv group, he decided to switch his focus to acting. Following graduation, Yeun moved to Chicago to study improvisational theatre, eventually having the opportunity to work in one of the touring companies of famed comedy theatre and improvisational school The Second City. After accomplishing his goals in Chicago, he moved to Los Angeles, where he currently resides. Prior to THE WALKING DEAD, Yeun was most recently seen in a co-starring role on an episode of the popular television series The Big Bang Theory.

"Thanks for having me!" exclaims Yeun. "I'm totally stoked to be signing at the Image booth and to meet all of The Walking Dead fans. It's gonna be a blast!"

Don't miss Steven Yeun, signing exclusively at Image Comics booth #218, on Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. during Long Beach Comic-Con 2010!


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Image Comics Announces "Term Life"

AJ Lieberman takes on crime noir with TERM LIFE OGN

 

What would you do if you had a family to care for, but everyone from the mob to dirty cops wants you dead?

 

Writer AJ Lieberman (COWBOY NINJA VIKING) and artist Nick Thornborrow (The Anthology Project) ask just this question of the hero of their new graphic novel TERM LIFE, coming in January 2011 from Image Comics.

"Coming off COWBOY NINJA VIKING, I wanted to write something a little less... insane," says Lieberman. "And I wanted it to have a lot less Vikings. I'm a huge fan of crime fiction. TERM LIFE is a puzzle -- a bloody, violent puzzle! Our hero is trying to do one very simple thing: stay alive for the next 21 days. But the great thing about crime fiction is that the hero rarely gets what he wants."

"I'd say if you're into Brubaker or Cooke or Lapham, this is right in your wheelhouse. If, on the other hand, you buy your comics for the stunning art, you're in luck. TERM LIFE has that in spades!" Lieberman adds.

TERM LIFE: If Nick Barrow can stay alive for 21 days, he'll die happy. Everyone Nick knows wants him dead: mob bosses, contract killers, and dirty cops. Performing the last act of a desperate man, Nick takes out a million dollar insurance policy on himself, payable to his estranged daughter. The problem? The policy doesn't take effect for 21 days. 21 days? Nick knows he'll be lucky to be alive for 21 hours...

TERM LIFE (NOV100427), a 144-page full-color graphic novel written by AJ Lieberman and drawn by Nick Thornborrow, will be on sale January 12, 2011, for $16.99.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Radical and Darren Lynn Bousman Present Abattoir

ABATTOIR #1 (1 of 6)

 

Creator DARREN LYNN BOUSMAN

Writers ROB LEVIN & TROY PETERI
Artist BING CANSINO
Cover Artist TAE YOUNG CHOI

Diamond Order Code: AUG101116
On Sale: October 27th
Mature Readers
Price: $3.99
Page Count: 32 (with no ads)
Format: Full Color

From director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw franchise, Mother’s Day, Repo! The Genetic Opera) comes a chilling, supernatural tale set in the cold beauty of Middle America in the late 80s.

After a brutal massacre takes place in a gorgeous house, real estate agent and family man Richard Ashwalt is assigned the impossible task of picking up the pieces and selling the property. As Richard inspects the blood-soaked grounds, a twisted old man journeys to the house with a sinister and terrifying purpose. Richard is about to be drawn into a web of shadows, murders and massacres that will shatter him to his very core!

Arisa's Secrets

I read Arisa 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has smart phone apps).

Cemetery Dance Announces Special Editions of Upcoming Stephen King

Press release:

NEW HALLOWEEN HORRORS FROM STEPHEN KING AND CEMETERY DANCE PUBLICATIONS:

Full Dark, No Stars; The Secretary of Dreams; Riding the Bullet; "The Crate"

BALTIMORE ­ Cemetery Dance Publications is launching the Halloween season with brand new books by horror legends Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Justin Cronin, plus the world's first hardcover edition of the Internet eBook sensation The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman.

First up, Cemetery Dance has a little bit of everything for Stephen King fans this fall:

Just announced is the Cemetery Dance deluxe special edition of King's new book, Full Dark, No Stars, which will also be published as a trade hardcover by Scribner on November 9, 2010. The tales in Full Dark, No Stars are bleak, featuring some of the darkest moments of any King work in recent memory, and Cemetery Dance brought together a team of five acclaimed artists to create nearly twenty exclusive illustrations for this special edition including black and white pieces and glossy color tip-ins. This fine collectible volume will be printed in two colors on a high-quality paper. This deluxe special edition, which will not be sold in stores, will ship just in time for the holidays in December.

Shipping now from Cemetery Dance Publications is The Secretary of Dreams (Volume Two) by Stephen King, an exclusive oversized and slipcased collectible special edition hardcover that is not available in stores. This beautiful book features classic tales of terror from the mind of Stephen King combined with the haunting artwork of Maine artist Glenn Chadbourne. This deluxe special edition has a very limited print run and there are no plans at this time for it to be reprinted in any other form.

Shipping just in time for Halloween will be Riding the Bullet by Stephen King and Mick Garris. This special edition "double book" is being published by Lonely Road Books, which is distributed by Cemetery Dance, and the striking volume features the complete original novella by King and screenplay by Garris; creepy artwork by Bernie Wrightson; a unique design with two color printing throughout; color wrap-around cover artwork and color interiors by Alan M. Clark; plus exclusive storyboards, photos from the set, production notes, hand-corrected script pages, and more from the Top Secret "Director's Notebook" kept during the production.

Also shipping next month will be Shivers VI, an anthology that features "The Crate" by Stephen King, his long lost novella that has never appeared in any of his collections, and "A Special Place: The Heart of A Dark Matter" by Peter Straub, a novella that is "creepy to the core" and "shines a terrible light on the back story of Straub's acclaimed A Dark Matter" according to the coveted Starred Review from Publishers Weekly.

Speaking of Peter Straub, Cemetery Dance has more good news for his fans. Shipping right now is a special hardcover edition of Straub's haunting Halloween tale, Pork Pie Hat, the story of a legendary jazz legend who witnessed a terrible event as a child in the forbidden woods outside of town and now must face the demons of his past one last time.

Also coming soon from Cemetery Dance this fall is a deluxe Special Edition of The Passage by Justin Cronin, one of the hottest horror novels of the last decade. This Cemetery Dance special edition sold out within four hours of being announced, and Stephen King called the book "your basic don't-miss reading experience."

Finally, Cemetery Dance will be publishing a trade hardcover edition of The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman, which took the Internet by storm this summer as part of a unique marketing experiment. Freeman and Cemetery Dance posted the entire text of the book for free on a promotional website, www.DownloadTheDarkness.com, and more than 10,000 readers downloaded the book and spread the word about this chilling tale that New York Times bestselling author Stewart O'Nan compared to "classic Stephen King."

The eBook is currently WOWIO.com's Free eBook of the Month, where thousands of new readers are discovering it. In fact, The Painted Darkness became the all-time bestselling Free eBook of the Month at WOWIO just two weeks after it was posted. The Cemetery Dance hardcover edition of The Painted Darkness will be the book's first print edition.

For more information about these special editions and many others from Cemetery Dance Publications, please visit http://www.cemeterydance.com/

Cemetery Dance Publications recently published the World's First Edition of Blockade Billy by Stephen King and is widely-considered the world's leading specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. The hardcover imprint has published over 200 affordable and collectible Limited Edition hardcover books from the genre's most acclaimed authors. These authors include Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Ray Bradbury, William Peter Blatty, Peter Straub, Graham Masterton, Richard Laymon, Michael Slade, Douglas Clegg, Jack Ketchum, William F. Nolan, Joe R. Lansdale, and hundreds of others, along with the best new writers in the genre.

New Code:Breaker and He Also Likes to Kill

I read Code:Breaker 2 (Code : Breaker)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

I Reads You Review: RASETSU, VOL. 5

Creator: Chika Shiomi; Kinami Watabe (translation and adaptation)

Publishing Information: VIZ MEDIA, paperback, 192 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-2754-3 (ISBN-13)

Rating “T+” for “Older Teen”

Rasetsu is a shojo manga (comic for teen girls) from creator, Chika Shiomi. Rasetsu is essentially a spin-off of an earlier Shiomi manga entitled Yurara, mainly because a character from Yurara appears in Rasetsu.

Rasetsu focuses on its title character, 19-year-old Rasetsu Hyuga. When she was 15-years-old, an evil spirit attacked Rasetsu. Although she survived the attack, the spirit vowed to return to claim Rasetsu on her 20th birthday… unless she has found true love. As a memento of their encounter, the spirit left a bright red flower mark on her chest. Now, Rasetsu works for Hiichiro Amakawa Agency, an exorcist agency, and she uses her special powers to banish evil spirits. She also searches for true love which may have come in the form of her two coworkers, Iwatsuki Kuryu and Yako Hoshino (the holdover from Yurara).

As Rasetsu, Vol. 5 begins, Rasetsu is dealing with the aftermath of Kuryu’s kiss. What should she make of it when her heart really longs for Yako? Yako teases, but how does he really feel about her, especially considering that he is still hung up on that spirit he loved in high school? Meanwhile, their boss, Hiichiro Amakawa, drops their strangest case on them. Nanami Nishikawa is a young woman who is about to give birth to her child, but a dark spirit that kills babies is after her unborn child.

Rasetsu, like Yurara, is a supernatural-themed romance. Rasetsu is also a shojo love triangle with a hook – the young lovers are also ghost busters. Separately, neither the romance nor the ghost busting is original in its execution, but when combined, they make Rasetsu seem special. Each – the love triangle and the supernatural – gives the other a sense of urgency. The conflict is not just about fighting ghosts, but it is also about combating the sense of confusion that young love time three creates.

I like Rasetsu quite a bit, almost as much as I liked Yurara. I tear through a volume of Rasetsu like there was a box off of Popeye’s fried chicken waiting for me at the end. Rasetsu is not a great manga, but it does supernatural romance better than most. It is a personal favorite, and I would recommend it to people familiar with Shiomi’s work.

B+

Tim Seeley's "LoveBunny" is Back

TECHNICOLOR LOVEBUNNY

 

Tim Seeley's cult hit LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL returns to print in full color

 

Before HACK/SLASH introduced the world to the slasher-fighting duo of Cassie Hack and her sidekick Vlad, TIM SEELEY introduced another critically acclaimed duo to the world in the form of dysfunctional superheroes, Lovebunny & Mr. Hell!

Originally published in black and white and out of print. The new edition of LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL is painstakingly remastered to full color!

Seeley shares, "With more and more 'serious' superhero comics clogging the shelves, I decided it was time to bring back my first professional creator owned comic. Irreverent, sexy, and funny, Lovebunny and Mr. Hell is to superheroes what Hack/Slash is to horror, and now it's in full color for the first time!"

LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL: Former sidekick Beth Bowers wants to be her own hero, but she's saddled with a sidekick of her own: the demonic, eternally hungry Mr. Hell! Long out of print, their twisted adventures return in an all new, volume in full color for the first time! This new edition includes EVERY appearance of LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL to date, including the HACK/SLASH strips and the crossover with Savage Dragon!

LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL, VOL. 1 (NOV100432), a 136- page full-color graphic novel collecting Tim Seeley's formerly black-and-white comic, will be in stores January 12, 2011 for $14.99.

Catch up with Seeley's cult hit series Hack/Slash with the following collections: HACK/SLASH OMNIBUS Vol. 1 (APR100408, $29.99) and HACK/SLASH OMNIBUS Vol. 2 (MAY100447, $29.99). HACK/SLASH OMNIBUS Vol. 3 (JUN100415, $29.99) will be in stores November 10, 2010, and HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC (S/N HC: SEP100462, $29.99; TP: $9.99) will be in stores November 17, 2010.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Skullkickers #2 Disappears

THE SALES KICK CONTINUES!

SKULLKICKERS #2 sells out at distribution level almost immediately after release

After issue 1 rampaged off shelves and into the hearts and minds of comic fans, SKULLKICKERS #2 follows suit with a distribution-level sell out!

Demand for SKULLKICKERS is soaring, so Image Comics has ordered a second printing of the pulse-pounding second issue. It will be in stores November 10, 2011.

SKULLKICKERS scribe Jim Zubkavich (POPGUN, Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki) says, "When the gang at Image contacted me to let me know that issue #2 had blown through its overprint right after release, I couldn't believe it. My friend Joe Vriens sent a pin-up we intended to put in the back of our next issue, but we quickly drafted that sweet piece as our second print #2 cover."

"Thank you to everyone who has given our fun little fantasy book a chance. We'll keep working hard to earn that support!" Zubkavich adds.

SKULLKICKERS is fantasy action-comedy written by Zubkavich with art by the gifted team of Edwin Huang, Chris Stevens (POPGUN) and Misty Coats.

In SKULLKICKERS, two mercenaries are entangled in a high-class assassination plot, and nothing -- not werewolves, skeletons or black magic -- will stop them from getting paid. If you love fantasy, action-comedy, a touch of black-hearted violence and movies like ARMY OF DARKNESS then SKULLKICKERS is the book for you!

SKULLKICKERS #2 Second Printing (AUG108190), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores November 10, 2010. SKULLKICKERS #3 (SEP100497) will be in stores November 24, 2010. Follow the Skullkickers blog at www.skullkickers.com for sneak peeks and more. You can download a free preview of SKULLKICKERS using the Image Comics app from comiXology.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

First Chapter of Hetalia Volume 2 FREE!

Press release:

October 24 - a day for Hetalia fans, by Hetalia fans. How wonderful!

This holiday definitely belongs to you, and we here at TOKYOPOP wanted to give back to the community who strongly and loyally supported this series for so long.

To show our appreciation, we are offering the 1st chapter of Volume 2 on the comiXology app for FREE!

You heard right!

Starting immediately, you can read the the first chapter of the new volume of Hetalia, two months before it hits the bookstores -- digitally and for FREE!

Hetalia Volume 2 Chapter 1 (called Issue 7) is available now for download at comiXology*!!

This special Hetalia Day offer is for a limited time and ends October 24th at 11:59 pm PST, so be sure to share the news with all your fellow fans.

Click here or search "Hetalia" on the comiXology app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to download!

Have a great Hetalia Day!

App lingo: Hetalia is divided into "Chapters", also referred to as "Issues". Hetalia Vol. 1 has 6 issues, so Hetalia Vol. 2 starts at issue 7.

*The comiXology app is free to download at iTunes. Upon downloading the app, it may take a few minutes for Hetalia to appear in the search feature

Naruto Illustration Book Drops Tuesday, October 26th

NINJA ACTION LEAPS OFF THE PAGE IN THE NARUTO ILLUSTRATION BOOK FROM VIZ MEDIA

 

Full Color Character Portraits By Creator Masashi Kishimoto Are Depicted In Addition To A Fold Out Poster And Collectible Stickers

 

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release of the vividly colored NARUTO ILLUSTRATION BOOK on October 26th. The new soft cover edition is offered by the Shonen Jump imprint, features nearly 100 pages of original illustrations by creator Masashi Kishimoto, and will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $27.00 CAN.

Naruto is a young shinobi (or ninja) with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his ongoing mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! The NARUTO ILUSTRATION BOOK features a variety of character portraits depicting the young ninja in action, as well as his cohorts including Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. A color pull-out double-sided poster and a sticker sheet are also included.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens with more than 100 million copies in circulation to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for Teens, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) are among VIZ Media’s most successful properties and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

The latest NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime episodes from Japan (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) are currently available for free viewing at VIZAnime.com and Hulu.com. Dubbed episodes are available for download to own through iTunes, PlayStation Network, Amazon, Xbox and more.

For more information on NARUTO please visit the official NARUTO website at http://www.naruto.com/.

Darren Lynn Bousman of Radical Publishing's "Abattoir" at Golden Apple Comics

MEET DARREN LYNN BOUSMAN, DIRECTOR OF THE SAW FRANCHISE FILMS AND MOTHER’S DAY

On October 27th, starting at 5:00 P.M., Golden Apple Comics will present an autograph signing with Darren Lynn Bousman, along with writers Rob Levin and Troy Peteri, for the release of the new comic book from Radical Publishing, ABATTOIR.

From director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw franchise, Mother’s Day, Repo! The Genetic Opera) comes a chilling, supernatural tale set in the cold beauty of Middle America in the late 80s. After a brutal massacre takes place in a gorgeous house, real estate agent and family man Richard Ashwalt is assigned the impossible task of picking up the pieces and selling the property. As Richard inspects the blood-soaked grounds, a twisted old man arrives at the house with a sinister and terrifying purpose. Richard is about to be drawn into a web of shadows, murders and massacres that will shatter him to his very core!

ABATTOIR issue #1 autograph event will take place in Los Angeles at Golden Apple Comics on October 27th, 2010 from 5-7 P.M. at 7018 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. For more information, please call 323-658-6047.


About Radical Publishing
In a world of publishing where the market is always hungry for the next fresh property, one new publisher is looking to shake things up and is delivering exciting creative products with a bold new business approach. Aptly named, Radical Publishing is leveraging on its experienced leadership, dynamic crew and unique business infrastructure to create that vital connection throughout the media space.

Founded by Barry Levine and Jesse Berger, Radical Publishing is a manufacturer of the next generation of premium comic book products, with a focus on high-concept stories and artwork by marquee and newly discovered talent. In addition, the quality of the work ensures a longer shelf life for each property as a collective library of high concepts. For more information, visit www.radicalpublishing.com.

About Golden Apple Comics
Golden Apple Comics has been the premier comic book & pop culture store in Los Angeles for over 30 years. Always cutting edge & proactive in the community, Golden Apple views this as a great opportunity to attract new readers to our thriving industry. A place in LA for anything groundbreaking in the comic world.