Saturday, April 30, 2011

Much-Copied, Never-Matched Michael Golden Receives Honor

Michael Golden Receives Artist Guest of Honor Award from I-Con

New York--This month, Artist/writer/creator Michael Golden is honored with the I-CON Artist Guest of Honor Award at this renowned, 30-years running, Long Island festival of science fiction and pop culture.

Co-creator of the X-Men's Rogue character, Spartan X and Bucky O'Hare, Mr. Golden is known worldwide for his groundbreaking work on "The 'Nam," "Micronauts," "G.I. Joe Yearbook," and "Dr. Strange, " among MUCH more, and is counted as one of the best cover designers and storytellers in the business.

Golden has been one of the most influential creators around for the last several decades:

"....unless you can actually draw yourself, it is very difficult to understand the exact mind-blowing impossibility of what he does," said writer/artist Larry Hama, of Golden's work.

"Michael blithely puts down on paper exactly what he sees in his head. It's like he's got a cosmic opaque projector that shoots a laser beam from his brain through the kundalini eye in his forehead straight down onto the drawing surface where all he has to do is trace it," continues Hama. "The result is hard-edged and fully realized in every way. No fuzzy impressions here. No using the side of the pencil. No squiggly space-filling lines blocked in on automatic pilot. To paraphrase Neal Adams (who was referring to Golden), there is not a single millimeter of line on the page that is not directed by conscious thought."

Recent books covering the colorful life and amazing art of Michael Golden include a Manga version of the "Bucky O'Hare" series, created with Hama, as well as the top selling art retrospective "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden," written by Renee Witterstaetter, which sold out and has gone into a second printing, as well as his recent sketchbook "Heroes and Villains," and the just released NEW sketchbook, "MORE Heroes and Villains." His cover work is featured on the children's book "Kerry and the Scary Things." In addition, several DVD's have been produced on Michael and his career, including "Creator Chronicles: Michael Golden," featuring an extensive interview and tutorial with the creator, as well as "Modern Masters: In the Studio with Michael Golden."

As a conceptual cover artist, Golden has penciled everything from Batman and Captain America to Vampirella! And the list keeps growing.

The I-CON Artist Guest of Honor Award is added to other honors including the Lille Guest of Honor Award as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Michael has served as an Editor at DC Comics as well as Senior Art Director at Marvel Comics, and has worked on scores of movie production projects, new ones currently in development. His art has been the focus of gallery shows in places as diverse as Gijon, Barcelona, New York, Antwerp and Brussels, while his class on storytelling has been conducted from Spain to Brussels to France to Canada to the United States... and most recently China.

For more information on Michael Golden and his work, contact:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Golden/44937601170?ref=share

Or go to: http://www.evainkartistgroup.com/

Friday, April 29, 2011

Toriko at the Regal Plateau

I read Toriko, Vol. 5

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



Titan Comics to Publish "Family Guy" Comic Book

‘GIGGITY GIGGITY’! Titan Comics Set To Launch All New Family Guy Series!

Titan Comics and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products are pleased to announce the U.S. launch of the Family Guy comic series, based on the award-winning hit animated TV show from the mind of Seth MacFarlane.

The Family Guy comic series will follow the Griffin family in a string of brand new outrageous storylines, along with fellow Quahog residents Cleveland Brown, Joe Swanson and everyone’s favorite ladies man, Glen "giggity" Quagmire.

Family Guy has become one of America’s favorite animated TV shows of all time, and was named one of TV Guide’s “25 Top Cult Shows Ever!”. The show boasts over 27 million fans on Facebook, and has been nominated for 13 Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Comedy Series.

Artwork for the Family Guy comic series is provided by comic artists SL Gallant (G.I. Joe, Torchwood) and Anthony Williams (Judge Dredd, Superman, Batman).

Family Guy comic #1 will be on sale and available on US newsstands and in specialty comic book stores beginning on July 27, 2011.

Follow @FamilyGuyComic on Twitter where news on the comic series will be revealed on a regular basis.


About Titan Comics:
Titan is the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment properties in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Titan Magazines was established in 1995 as a separate division of Titan Publishing Group Ltd, to produce officially licensed tie-in movie and TV magazines and comics. For more information on our titles, visit http://www.titanmagazines.com/.

About Family Guy:
In 2009, FAMILY GUY earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, making it only the second animated series in television history to be honored with such a distinction. Since its debut in 1999, the animated series has attracted an impressively loyal following of devoted fans and has sold nearly 25 million combined DVD units, making it the largest-selling TV series ever.

The show follows the adventures of lovable oaf PETER GRIFFIN (Seth MacFarlane) and his hilariously odd family of middle-class New Englanders. LOIS (Alex Borstein) is Peter’s loving wife, a former Miss Teen Rhode Island who rules the roost but is one step away from a nervous breakdown. Then there are their kids: frumpy 17-year-old MEG (Mila Kunis), the family’s punching bag; 13-year-old CHRIS (Seth Green), a kid who doesn’t understand girls, much less the evil monkey who recently emerged from his closet; and 1-year-old STEWIE (MacFarlane), a diabolically clever baby whose burgeoning sexuality is very much a work in progress. Rounding out the Griffin household is BRIAN (MacFarlane), the family dog, a member of Mensa with a penchant for dry martinis and dumb blondes.

FAMILY GUY is a 20th Century Fox Television production. Seth MacFarlane is creator/executive producer. Mark Hentemann and Steve Callaghan serve as executive producers/showrunners, while David A. Goodman, Chris Sheridan and Danny Smith are executive producers.

About Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Oresama Teacher and Super Bun

I read Oresama Teacher , Vol. 2

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


Leroy Douresseaux on EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS #3



EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS #3
RADICAL PUBLISHING

CREATORS: Matt Cirulnick and David Manpearl
STORY: Matt Cirulnick
WRITER: M. Zachary Sherman
ARTIST: Colin Lorimer
COLORS: Kyushik Shin
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
COVER: Alex Maleev
28pp, Color, $3.50

Matt Cirulnick and David Manpearl have re-imagined classic Western hero, Wyatt Earp in Earp: Saints for Sinners. Published by Radical Comics, it is a four-issue miniseries.

Earp: Saints for Sinners is set in a near future after an event called “Black Thirty” sets off a second Great Depression. Out of the chaos rose a new type of bank robber, and Wyatt Earp was the man who brought them in to justice or shot down the ones he didn’t bring in. Earp collared more most-wanted men than anyone in history, but after a violent assignment claimed the life of his brother, Virgil Earp, Wyatt became a businessman. He opened AOK Saloon in the only boomtown left in America, Las Vegas.

As Earp: Saints for Sinners #3 opens, tensions rise between John Flynn, billionaire owner of the Flynn Casino, and Wyatt – all over a woman. Josephine, a gorgeous lounge singer at Flynn Casino, ran to Wyatt for safety after Flynn tried to rape her. With Allan Pinkerton and his private security group, the Pinkertons, at his side, Flynn tries to bully Wyatt and his pal, Doc Holliday. Meanwhile, Wyatt’s younger brother, Morgan Earp, makes a dangerous move on his own.

It has taken three issues, but Earp: Saints for Sinners comes into its own as a kind of science fiction, action, and crime comic book. The flashbacks settle in with the sustained narrative, so this colorful mismatch of Michael Mann urban action and John Ford Western starts to deliver better character drama. The brassy colors over Colin Lorimer’s art are perfect for this series’ flashy setting, and it makes the violence look real purty and perfect for this story.

A-

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

DC COMICS

FEB110136 ACTION COMICS #900 (NOTE PRICE) $5.99

FEB110252 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #14 (MR) $2.99

AUG100294 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE JOKER BY LEE BERMEJO $80.00

JAN110265 BATMAN INCORPORATED #5 $2.99

OCT100344 BLACKEST NIGHT PORTFOLIO SET #2 $29.99

FEB110122 BRIGHTEST DAY #24 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

FEB110241 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #59 $2.99

JAN110319 DC COMICS PRESENTS NIGHT FORCE #1 $7.99

FEB110152 DETECTIVE COMICS #876 $2.99

JAN110255 FLASH #11 (FLASHPOINT) (RES) $2.99

JAN110329 FLASH REBIRTH TP $14.99

FEB110128 GREEN ARROW #11 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

FEB110118 GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #9 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

FEB110247 INFAMOUS #4 (OF 6) $2.99

JAN110330 JONAH HEX TALL TALES TP $14.99

FEB110126 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #24 (BD) (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

FEB110179 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #50 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

FEB110244 MAD MAGAZINE #509 $5.99

JAN100406 MASS EFFECT SER 1 GRUNT AF PI

JAN100407 MASS EFFECT SER 1 SHEPARD AF PI

JAN100404 MASS EFFECT SER 1 TALI AF PI

JAN100405 MASS EFFECT SER 1 THANE AF PI

FEB110263 NEW YORK FIVE #4 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

JAN110431 SANDMAN TP VOL 05 A GAME OF YOU NEW ED (MR) $19.99

FEB110268 SCALPED #48 (MR) $2.99

JAN110335 SHOWCASE PRESENTS GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 05 $19.99

FEB110165 WONDER WOMAN #610 $2.99

FEB110188 XOMBI #2 $2.99

DEC100308 Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 05 (MR) $29.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

MARVEL COMICS

FEB110625 AGE OF X UNIVERSE #2 (OF 2) $3.99

FEB110553 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #659 BIG $3.99

JAN110682 ANITA BLAKE CIRCUS OF DAMNED INGENUE #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

FEB110624 ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN WOLVERINE ANOTHER FINE MESS #1 $4.99

FEB110529 AVENGERS #12 POINT ONE $2.99

FEB110537 CAPTAIN AMERICA #617 $3.99

NOV100650 CAPTAIN AMERICA OPERATION REBIRTH PREM HC $24.99

NOV100651 CAPTAIN AMERICA OPERATION REBIRTH PREM HC DM VAR ED 62 $24.99

FEB110664 CAPTAIN AMERICA TRIAL OF CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC $24.99

FEB110604 DEADPOOL #36 $2.99

FEB110684 DOOMWAR TP $15.99

FEB110690 ESSENTIAL X-MEN TP VOL 06 NEW ED $19.99

FEB110665 FANTASTIC FOUR BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 04 $24.99

FEB118235 FF #1 2ND PTG MCGUINNESS VAR (PP #965) $3.99

FEB110578 FF #2 $2.99

FEB110691 IDENTITY WARS BY STEVE MCNIVEN POSTER $8.99

FEB110565 INCREDIBLE HULKS #627 $2.99

FEB110544 MIGHTY THOR #1 $3.99

FEB110646 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 06 $24.99

FEB110647 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 06 DM VAR ED 28 $24.99

FEB110634 NAMOR FIRST MUTANT #9 $2.99

FEB110628 NEW MUTANTS #24 AGEX $2.99

FEB110517 ORSON SCOTT CARDS SPEAKER FOR DEAD #4 (OF 5) $3.99

JAN110726 OSBORN #5 (OF 5) BIG $3.99

FEB110589 POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #4 (OF 5) $2.99

FEB110679 PUNISHER TP FRANKEN-CASTLE $34.99

FEB110669 RUNAWAYS TP VOL 02 TEENAGE WASTELAND DIGEST NEW PTG $9.99

FEB110514 RUSE #2 (OF 4) $2.99

FEB110530 SECRET AVENGERS #12 $3.99

FEB110532 SECRET AVENGERS #12 POINT ONE $2.99

FEB110686 SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK BY JOHN BYRNE TP VOL 01 $24.99

FEB110555 SPIDER-GIRL #6 BIG $2.99

FEB110567 SPIDER-MAN #13 $2.99

FEB110549 THOR ASGARDS AVENGER #1 $4.99

FEB110655 THOR OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE GN TP $19.99

DEC108149 THOR TRIALS OF LOKI PREM HC $19.99

NOV100652 THOR WARRIORS THREE UNLEASHED PREM HC $19.99

NOV100653 THOR WARRIORS THREE UNLEASHED PREM HC DM VAR ED 63 $19.99

JAN110713 THUNDERSTRIKE #5 (OF 5) $3.99

FEB110543 TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS THRONE OF BLOOD #1 $3.99

FEB110602 ULTIMATE X-MEN MGC #1 $1.00

FEB110613 UNCANNY X-MEN #536 $3.99

FEB110554 VENOM #2 $2.99

FEB110620 X-23 #9 $2.99

FEB110607 X-MEN #10 $3.99

FEB110662 X-MEN GOD LOVES MAN KILLS TP NEW PTG $14.99

NOV100631 X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 CASSADAY CVR $99.99

NOV100632 X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 DM CLASSIC VAR CVR $99.99

FEB110661 X-MEN VS AVENGERS AND FANTASTIC FOUR TP $24.99

IDW from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB110341 ANGEL #44 $3.99

FEB110357 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #4 $3.99

JAN110542 GENIUS ISOLATED LIFE & ART OF ALEX TOTH HC $49.99

FEB110302 GI JOE DISAVOWED TP VOL 03 $19.99

FEB110330 GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #2 $3.99

FEB110294 INFESTATION CVO 100 PG SPECTACULAR $7.99

JAN110516 LOCKE & KEY KEYS TO THE KINGDOM #6 (OF 6) $3.99

DEC100419 PHOENIX WITHOUT ASHES S&N LTD ED $75.00

FEB110347 SPIKE HC VOL 01 $21.99

FEB110303 TRANSFORMERS 3 MOVIE PREQUEL FOUNDATION #3 (OF 4) $3.99

FEB110327 TRUE BLOOD TAINTED LOVE #3 (MR) $3.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

JAN110107 CONAN ROAD OF KINGS #4 (OF 6) $3.50

DEC100065 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #6 $3.50

JAN110085 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM TP VOL 01 $15.99

DEC108322 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 07 $49.99

JAN110148 GOON VS MR WICKER WOMENS T/S LG $24.99

JAN110140 GOON W/ LOGO WOMENS T/S LG $24.99

JAN110141 GOON W/ LOGO WOMENS T/S XL $24.99

FEB110036 KING CONAN SCARLET CITADEL #3 $3.50

JAN110120 MIGHTY SAMSON ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 $49.99

DEC100077 OUTLAW PRINCE LTD HC $49.99

FEB110029 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & LOST COMMAND #4 (OF 5) $3.50

FEB110028 STAR WARS LEGACY WAR #5 (OF 6) $3.50

FEB110030 STRANGE CASE OF MR HYDE #1 (OF 4) $3.50

SEP100036 TUROK SON OF STONE #2 $3.50

JAN110122 TUROK SON OF STONE ARCHIVES HC VOL 08 $49.99

DEC100089 VAMPIRE HUNTER D NOVEL VOL 16 TYRANTS STARS PTS 1 & 2 (RES) $14.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

IMAGE COMICS

FEB110394 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #1 (OF 4) CVR B NAT JONES & JAY FOTOS $3.99

FEB110428 BULLETPROOF COFFIN TP (MR) $17.99

FEB110499 ECHOES #5 (OF 5) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99

JAN110607 HAUNT #15 (RES) $2.99

FEB118143 IMAGE FIRSTS ELEPHANTMEN #1 (PP #964) $1.00

FEB118144 IMAGE FIRSTS WALKING DEAD #1 (NEW PTG) (MR) (PP #964) $1.00

FEB110438 INVINCIBLE TP VOL 14 VILTRUMITE WAR $19.99

FEB110464 MARINEMAN #5 $3.99

FEB110468 MISSION #3 $2.99

FEB110469 MORNING GLORIES #9 $2.99

JUN100512 VELOCITY #4 (OF 4) $3.99

FEB110475 WALKING DEAD #84 (MR) $2.99

FEB110413 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #17 (MR) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for April 27 2011

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
MAR110005 PREVIEWS #272 MAY 2011 PI

COMICS

FEB110833 AMORY WARS KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 #10 (OF 12) $3.99

FEB110740 ARCHIE #620 $2.99

FEB110828 BART SIMPSON COMICS #59 $2.99

FEB110744 BETTY & VERONICA #253 (RES) $2.99

FEB110745 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #190 $3.99

FEB111217 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 05 $11.99

DEC100714 CAVEWOMAN SNOW #1 (MR) $3.75

DEC108209 CODE GEASS QUEEN GN VOL 02 (NEW PTG) $10.99

FEB110898 DANGER GIRL ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 $3.99

JAN111187 DF DEAN KOONTZ NEVERMORE #1 ROBERTSON VIRGIN CVR $19.99

JAN111184 DF GODZILLA MONSTER WORLD #1 EXC SKETCH CVR $8.99

FEB110837 DRACULA COMPANY OF MONSTERS #9 $3.99

FEB110838 DRACULA COMPANY OF MONSTERS TP VOL 02 $12.99

FEB111121 EARP SAINTS FOR SINNERS #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50

JAN110881 EMPIRE STATE A LOVE STORY OR NOT GN $17.95

FEB111124 FLEAGLES CLASSIC EC ARTISTS SC $25.00

DEC100718 FREAKSHOW #2 (OF 3) $2.95

JAN118107 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #1 2ND PRINTING (MR) (PP #960) $2.99

NOV100947 GORE #2 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99

FEB111043 HATE ANNUAL #9 (MR) $4.95

MAR118012 HELLRAISER #1 2ND PTG $3.99

FEB111218 HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 02 (MR) $13.99

FEB111219 HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 12 EYE OPENING ARC PT 2 (MR) $11.99

JAN111375 HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES TP VOL 03 $12.99

FEB110847 INCORRUPTIBLE #17 $3.99

FEB110844 INSURRECTION V3.6 #2 $3.99

FEB111220 JACK FROST TP VOL 05 (NOTE PRICE) $11.99

FEB111128 JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP (S&S ED) VOL 03 $19.99

FEB111129 JUDGE DREDD MEGACITY MASTERS SC VOL 03 $19.99

OCT100958 KATO ORIGINS #8 THE HELLFIRE CLUB $3.99

JAN111381 KINGYO USED BOOKS TP VOL 03 $12.99

JAN111235 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #173 $5.99

FEB111221 LAON GN VOL 05 (NOTE PRICE) $11.99

DEC100883 LAST PHANTOM TP VOL 01 $19.99

NOV100700 LAST ZOMBIE TP $14.95

JAN110951 LIFE WITH ARCHIE MARRIED LIFE #9 MAY JUNE 2011 $3.99

NOV100921 LOVE FROM THE SHADOWS HC $19.99

FEB111222 MAXIMUM RIDE TP VOL 04 $12.99

NOV100948 MEDITERRANEA #3 (OF 14) $2.99

DEC101124 MONSTER HUNTERS SURVIVAL GUIDE #4 (OF 5) A CVR QUALANO $2.99

DEC101125 MONSTER HUNTERS SURVIVAL GUIDE #4 (OF 5) B CVR CUMMINGS $2.99

MAR111177 NO GIRLS ALLOWED TALES OF DARING WOMEN GN $8.95

FEB111223 OMAMORI HIMARI GN VOL 03 (NOTE PRICE) $11.99

JAN110911 PAGE BY PAIGE GN $9.95

JAN110912 PAGE BY PAIGE HC $18.95

FEB111224 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 05 $11.99

FEB110852 PLANET OF THE APES #1 $3.99

FEB110822 POLITICAL POWER BILL CLINTON FOIL ED $19.99

JAN111078 RASL #10 (MR) $3.50

MAR111073 RED SONJA OMNIBUS VOL 02 $29.99

FEB110704 REMAKE SPECIAL GN VOL 02 (MR) $9.95

JUN100737 SHREK #4 (OF 4) $3.95

FEB110829 SIMPSONS CLASSICS #28 $3.99

FEB110810 SLEEPYHEADS GN $24.99

FEB110858 STAN LEE TRAVELER #6 $3.99

MAR111292 VANGUARD FRAZETTA CLASSICS SC VOL 02 WHITE INDIAN $24.95

FEB110872 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #718 $3.99

JAN111098 WARLORD OF MARS #6 $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAR111455 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 47 $14.95
MAR111418 FAMOUS MONSTERS UNDERGROUND #1 (MR) $7.99
JAN111448 FANGORIA #303 MAY 2011 $8.99
FEB111248 JUXTAPOZ #124 MAY 2011 $5.99
MAR111456 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 48 $14.95
FEB111324 STAR WARS INSIDER #125 SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED $7.99
FEB111325 STAR WARS INSIDER #125 SPECIAL PX ED $7.99
DEC101132 TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #197 $5.95
FEB111289 UNDYING MONSTERS MAGAZINE #1 $9.95

Sunday, April 24, 2011

VIZ Media Announces New 3-in-1 Editions

VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS SUMMER READING FUN WITH NEW 3-IN-1 MANGA EDITIONS

New Omnibus Releases Announced For BLEACH, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, KEKKAISHI And NARUTO

San Francisco, CA, April 21, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, kicks off the summer reading season with the release of new 3-in-1 omnibus editions for several best-loved manga (graphic novels) series. NARUTO and KEKKAISHI both launch on May 3rd, and BLEACH and FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST go on sale June 7th. Each of the new omnibus releases bundles 3 complete manga volumes into a handy summertime reading companion.

NARUTO 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN • Available May 3rd

Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! It’s training day and no one takes Naruto seriously at Ninja Academy. Especially not the other students, who all are competing to be the best ninja ever and some day lead Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Naruto and his classmates are about to embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond Ninja Academy, beyond Konoha, beyond anything they ever imagined. What is Naruto’s true destiny? The epic story that has sold millions worldwide begins now! For more information, please visit the official NARUTO website at http://www.naruto.com/.

KEKKAISHI 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN • Available May 3rd

By night, teenager Yoshimori Sumimura is a "kekkaishi"--a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori's got other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the true practitioner of the art. Now the two rival kekkaishi must do battle with amphibious demons, the ghost of a pastry chef, charming demon-charmer Yomi and her pet demon Yoki, embittered demon-dog Koya – and more! More information on KEKKAISHI is available at: www.viz.com/kekkaishi.

BLEACH 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN • Available June 7th

Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits, and along with Rukia – who is slowly regaining her powers – it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace. The paranormal action-adventure begins now! More information on BLEACH is available at Bleach.viz.com.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN • Available June 7th

Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world, somewhere between magic, art and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in these powers to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and a leg...and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living iron. Now they are agents of the government, slaves of the military-alchemical complex, using their unique powers to obey their orders...even to kill. But their powers aren't unique. The world crawls with evil alchemists. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are! More information on FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST is available at: www.viz.com/fullmetal-alchemist.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

I Reads You Review: INVISIBLE LOVE (YAOI)


Creator: Rie Honjyo (cartoonist) with Vivian Chien (translator)
Publishing Information: Juné Manga/DMP, paperback, 184 pages, $12.95 (US)
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-56970-770-8 (ISBN-13); 1-56970-770-7 (ISBN-10)
Rating: “M” for “Mature Audiences 18+”

Invisible Love is a yaoi manga short story collection from creator, Rie Honjyo. Eight stories focus on five couples, each couple a perfect match, except that love is having a hard time being seen or coming to fruition.

The title story, “Invisible Love,” and the stories, “Impossible Lover” and “Extra Time,” focus on Inori and Senou, longtime friends. Inori is a hound dog and lothario who sleeps with many women, but he is always being dumped by them. Senou is the best pal who listens to Inori’s complaints, but Senou has feelings deeper than friendship for Senou. What happens when they act on those feelings?

“In a Box with You” finds two roommates at a boys’ boarding school who enjoy mutual masturbation. Is something wrong with them, or is masturbating merely a prelude to a more meaningful relationship? In “The Warmth of Your Hand,” Takeru meets a pretty blond boy named Yukihiko. Takeru thinks Yukihiko’s doll-like face looks familiar, but at the bottom of his memory hole is a childhood accident… and maybe love.

Rie Honjyo is quite talented at cartooning the male figure. In fact, Honjyo has a knack for cartooning the male figure as gorgeous male models. Her work is like manga as fashion photography. However, all that pretty boy art does not translate into erotic comics or even romantic boys’ love manga. The stories in Invisible Love aren’t bad; they’re just average.

The exception is “In a Box with You,” which I find interesting. I’ve never before read a yaoi story in which the sex is mainly mutual masturbation. Reading the story, I couldn’t help but wonder if the relationship between the characters, Sugawara and Nishimura, is representative of how women imagine budding sexual relationships between young men to be.

I ask this because the story is visualized in a sensitive manner, featuring compositions that are emotionally evocative. All the sex scenes in this story are depicted in a manner to suggest that each youth is considering the other’s pleasure. Too bad all of Invisible Love does not go into such intimate detail.

B

Invisible Love (Yaoi)


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on ABATTOIR #4

4

ABATTOIR #4 (OF 6)
RADICAL PUBLISHING

CREATOR: Darren Lynn Bousman
CONCEPT: Michael Peterson
WRITERS: Rob Levin and Troy Peteri
PENCILS: Wayne Nichols and Rodell Noora
LAYOUTS: Bing Cansino
COLORS: Andrei Pervukhin and Drazenka Kimpel
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
COVER: Tae Young Choi
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

The horror comic book miniseries from Radical Publishing, entitled Abattoir, is the creation of Darren Lynn Bousman. Bousman was the director of three films in the Saw franchise. The Abattoir comic script is written by Rob Levin and Troy Peteri with Bing Casino and various artists illustrating the script.

Abattoir is set in the late 1980s and follows real estate agent, Richard Ashwalt, who was struggling to sell a house where a brutal massacre took place. Then, a strange old man named Jebediah Crone wanted to buy the house before Richard even finished cleaning it. Richard comes to see Crone as the source of all his problems, including being the lead suspect in a murder investigation.

In Abattoir #4, Richard convinces his friend, police Detective Al Sperry, to help him continue his investigation of Crone. However, Newt Washington, the elderly gentleman who decades earlier had a run-in with Crone, helped Richard. Now, Newt faces someone else who was supposed to be Richard’s friend. Meanwhile, Richard thinks that he has discovered a pattern behind Crone’s activities.

Although Abattoir is a comic book, it reads like a fine horror novel and suspense thriller. The series is also improving with each issue, and I think that by publishing it in a traditional comic book format, Radical heightens the tension and thrills Abattoir offers. This story is a like cliffhanger with Hell the destination, and every horror comic book should aspire to be as exciting to read.

A-

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

DC COMICS

DEC100279 ASTRO CITY SHINING STARS HC $24.99

FEB110151 BATMAN #709 $2.99

FEB110191 DC COMICS PRESENTS LEGION SUPER HEROES DAMNED #1 $7.99

FEB110192 DC COMICS PRESENTS NINJA BOY #1 $7.99

FEB110131 DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #6 $2.99

FEB110248 DEUS EX #3 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

FEB110261 DMZ #64 (MR) $2.99

FEB110255 FABLES #104 (MR) $2.99

FEB110150 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #22 $2.99

FEB110114 GREEN LANTERN #65 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

FEB110116 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #59 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

FEB110257 HELLBLAZER #278 (MR) $2.99

JAN110327 HITMAN TP VOL 04 ACE OF KILLERS NEW PTG $17.99

FEB110134 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #56 $2.99

FEB110168 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #12 $2.99

DEC100250 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES HC VOL 01 THE CHOICE $24.99

FEB110181 POWER GIRL #23 $2.99

FEB110172 SPIRIT #13 $2.99

FEB110163 SUPERGIRL #63 $2.99

FEB110164 SUPERMAN BATMAN #83 $2.99

JAN110333 SUPERMAN BATMAN WORSHIP TP $17.99

FEB110185 TEEN TITANS #94 $2.99

FEB110239 TINY TITANS #39 $2.99

JAN110435 TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 09 THE CURE NEW ED (MR) $14.99

FEB110240 YOUNG JUSTICE #3 $2.99

FEB110189 ZATANNA #12 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

MARVEL COMICS

FEB110528 AVENGERS #12 $3.99

FEB110533 AVENGERS ACADEMY #12 $2.99

FEB110680 CAPTAIN AMERICA VS RED SKULL TP $24.99

FEB110635 DEADPOOLMAX #7 (MR) $3.99

FEB110688 ESSENTIAL THOR TP VOL 05 $19.99

FEB110505 FEAR ITSELF SINS PAST #1 FEAR $4.99

FEB110633 GENERATION HOPE #6 $2.99

FEB110522 HALO FALL OF REACH COVENANT #1 (OF 4) (RES) (MR) $3.99

FEB110560 HULK #32 $2.99

FEB110508 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #503 FEAR $3.99

FEB110584 IRON MAN 2.0 #4 $2.99

FEB110672 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN TP SENSATIONAL DIGEST $9.99

FEB110571 MARVEL BACKLIST READING CHRONOLOGY #1 $1.99

NOV100633 MMW DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 05 $54.99

NOV100634 MMW DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 05 DM VAR ED 157 $54.99

FEB110681 RED HULK TP SCORCHED EARTH $19.99

FEB110648 SHIELD HC ARCHITECTS OF FOREVER $24.99

FEB110513 SIGIL #2 (OF 4) $2.99

FEB110596 SILVER SURFER #3 (OF 5) $2.99

FEB110563 SKAAR KING OF SAVAGE LAND #2 (OF 5) $2.99

FEB110556 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #1000 $4.99

FEB110682 SPIDER-MAN NEW YORK STORIES TP $19.99

FEB110683 SPIDER-MAN ONE MOMENT IN TIME TP $19.99

FEB110600 THOR MGC #7 $1.00

FEB110597 THUNDERBOLTS #156 $2.99

FEB110687 THUNDERBOLTS CLASSIC TP VOL 01 $29.99

FEB110685 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS TP CRIME AND PUNISHMENT $19.99

FEB110631 UNCANNY X-FORCE #8 $3.99

FEB118103 VENOM #1 2ND PTG QUESADA VAR (PP #963) $3.99

FEB110614 WOLVERINE #8 $3.99

FEB110622 WOLVERINE & JUBILEE #4 (OF 4) $2.99

FEB110632 X-FACTOR #218 $2.99

FEB110670 X-MEN FIRST CLASS GN TP CLASS PORTRAITS $14.99

IDW from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

IDW PUBLISHING


AUG100382 ARCHIE SEVEN DECADES OF AMERICAS FAVORITE TEENAGERS HC $49.99

FEB110369 BLOOD STAINED SWORD TP $17.99

JAN110480 CLASSIC GI JOE TP VOL 11 $24.99

FEB110354 DOCTOR WHO FAIRYTALE LIFE #1 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN110538 DRAFTED TP ESSENTIAL EDITION $24.99

FEB110353 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLASSICS TP VOL 01 $19.99

FEB110351 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS DARK SUN #4 (OF 5) $3.99

FEB110348 DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS #6 $3.99

FEB110300 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #165 $3.99

JAN110531 JERICHO SEASON 3 #5 (OF 6) $3.99

FEB110361 KILL SHAKESPEARE #10 (OF 12) $3.99

FEB110367 SILENT HILL PAST LIFE TP $17.99

JAN110500 SUICIDE GIRLS #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

FEB110313 TRANSFORMERS HEART OF DARKNESS #2 $3.99

FEB110372 WINTERWORLD TP (NOTE PRICE) $17.99

FEB110315 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS UNDERCITY #1 (OF 4) $3.99

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB110010 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #1 FRANK MILLER CVR $7.99

FEB110009 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #1 PAUL CHADWICK CVR $7.99

JAN110144 GOON VS MR WICKER MENS T/S XL $17.99

JAN110149 GOON VS MR WICKER WOMENS T/S XL $24.99

JAN110151 HELLBOY W/ SKELETON MENS T/S LG $17.99

JAN110156 HELLBOY W/ SKELETON WOMENS T/S LG $24.99

JAN110164 HELLBOY WOMENS WILD HUNT T/S LG $24.99

JAN110162 HELLBOY WOMENS WILD HUNT T/S SM $24.99

JAN110165 HELLBOY WOMENS WILD HUNT T/S XL $24.99

JAN110119 LITTLE LULU PAL TUBBY VOL 03 FROG BOY & OTHER STORIES $15.99

FEB110025 MASS EFFECT EVOLUTION #4 (OF 4) MASSIMO CARNEVALE CVR $3.50

JAN110121 NEXUS ARCHIVES HC VOL 12 $49.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

IMAGE COMICS

FEB110393 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #1 (OF 4) CVR A NAT JONES $3.99

FEB110458 HACK SLASH #3 CVR A SEELEY (MR) $3.50

FEB110459 HACK SLASH #3 CVR B TARTAMELLA (MR) $3.50

OCT100512 INVINCIBLE #79 $2.99

FEB110419 MARIJUANAMAN HC $24.99

FEB110379 SUPER DINOSAUR #1 $2.99

FEB110493 TWILIGHT GUARDIAN #4 (OF 4) $3.99

FEB110412 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #16 (MR) $2.99

Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 20 2011

COMICS

JAN111292 2000 AD PACK MAR 2011 $25.00

FEB110832 28 DAYS LATER #22 $3.99

JAN111306 ABATTOIR #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50

FEB111074 AKIRA KODANSHA ED GN VOL 06 (MR) $29.99

FEB110706 AMITY BLAMITY GN BOOK 01 $10.95

FEB110741 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #154 $2.99

JAN111166 BEAUTIFUL SKIES OF HOUOU HIGH GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

DEC100716 BLACK DYNAMITE SLAVE ISLAND GN (MR) $5.95

JAN111346 BOONDOCK SAINTS MOB WAR #1 (OF 2) A CVR BRUNNER $3.99

JAN111347 BOONDOCK SAINTS MOB WAR #1 (OF 2) B CVR PHOTO $3.99

DEC100923 BULLET TO THE HEAD TP (MR) $19.99

SEP100839 CODE GEASS KNIGHT GN VOL 03 $10.99

JAN111199 COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS TP (NEW PTG) VOL 13 SNOID (MR) $19.99

JAN111200 COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS TP (NEW PTG) VOL 15 MODE ODAY (MR) $19.99

DEC100729 CONTINUUM GN $14.95

JAN111163 COUNTDOWN 7 DAYS GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

JAN110889 CRYPT OF HORROR #11 $29.95

JAN111279 DAN CLOWES MISTER WONDERFUL LOVE STORY TP $19.95

FEB110862 DARKWING DUCK #11 $3.99

FEB110863 DARKWING DUCK TP VOL 02 CRISIS ON INFINITE DARKWINGS $14.99

NOV100716 DAYS MISSING KESTUS #5 (OF 5) $3.95

FEB111027 DF GRIMM MYTHS & LEGENDS #3 EXC CVR $10.00

JAN111183 DF TRUE BLOOD #2 EXC TAINTED CVR $12.99

JAN110892 ELF #2 (OF 6) $3.99

FEB110813 FAME TAYLOR LAUTNER VARIANT CVR $9.99

FEB110809 GIRL & GORILLA GN $10.99

FEB110716 GOLD DIGGER #128 $3.99

FEB110958 GREEN HORNET #15 $3.99

DEC100891 GREEN HORNET STRIKES #7 (OF 10) $3.99

JAN118093 GUY RITCHIE GAMEKEEPER GN $24.99

JUN100922 GUY RITCHIE GAMEKEEPER GN $24.99

DEC100730 HARRY WALTON HENCHMAN FOR HIRE GN $9.95

JAN111164 ITAZURA NA KISS GN VOL 05 $16.95

JAN118136 JACK KIRBYS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS #1 $3.99

FEB111056 JACK KIRBYS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS HC $24.99

FEB111144 JAMES BOND OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 (RES) $19.95

FEB110696 KATE & WILLIAM VERY PUBLIC LOVE STORY TP $9.99

FEB110697 KATE MIDDLETON VERY PRIVATE PRINCESS ONE SHOT $3.99

JAN111172 KLONDIKE GN $24.95

DEC100732 KORE TP (ARCANA ED) 01 LOST IN ABADDON $19.95

NOV100870 LAST PHANTOM #6 $3.99

FEB110851 MALIGNANT MAN #1 (OF 4) $3.99

FEB110747 MAN FROM RIVERDALE TP $9.95

AUG101040 MARTIAN CONFEDERACY GN VOL 02 FROM MARS W LOVE $15.00

FEB110866 MICKEY MOUSE #307 $3.99

FEB111190 MISTRESS FORTUNE GN VOL 01 $9.99

JAN111377 NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 14 $12.99

NOV100899 PATRICIA BRIGGS MERCY THOMPSON MOON CALLED #5 $3.99

FEB110807 POOD #3 (MR) $4.50

FEB110979 RED SONJA BREAK THE SKIN ONE SHOT $4.99

JAN111165 REPLICA GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

NOV101002 RYDER ON THE STORM #3 (OF 3) (MR) $4.99

JAN111198 SAFE AREA GORAZDE HC SPECIAL ED (RES) (MR) $29.99

MAR101162 SILENT MOBIUS COMPLETE ED GN VOL 04 $14.99

FEB110830 SIMPSONS COMICS #177 $2.99

FEB111117 SIXTH GUN #11 $3.99

FEB110752 SONIC UNIVERSE #27 $2.99

FEB110854 STAN LEE SOLDIER ZERO #7 $3.99

NOV100901 STARGATE DANIEL JACKSON TP $14.99

MAR111251 TANK GIRL REMASTERED ED TP (NEW PTG) VOL 01 (MR) $16.95

MAR111252 TANK GIRL REMASTERED ED TP (NEW PTG) VOL 02 (MR) $16.95

MAR111253 TANK GIRL REMASTERED ED TP (NEW PTG) VOL 03 (MR) $16.95

JAN111296 TAXIDERMIST TP $24.99

JAN111162 TREASURE GN VOL 02 (RES) (MR) $12.95

SEP100932 VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 $49.99

DEC100725 VICTORIAN SECRET LADIES OF STEAMPUNK ONE-SHOT $3.99

FEB110698 WILLIAM WINDSOR VERY PUBLIC PRINCE ONE SHOT $3.99

FEB110754 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #6 $3.99

JAN111161 YELLOW II GN VOL 02 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $6.95

FEB111099 ZEROIDS #1 SPARACIO CVR B (O/A) $3.99

VIZ Media Titles Earn Eisner Award Nominations

VIZ MEDIA NOMINATED IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES FOR THE 2011 WILL EISNER COMIC INDUSTRY AWARDS

Naoki Urasawa, NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS and HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES Nominated

San Francisco, CA, April 8, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced today that two of its manga titles and one creator have been nominated in several categories for the 2011 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards for a total of 4 nominations, as announced by Comic-Con International on April 7, 2011.

Named for pioneering writer and comic artist Will Eisner, the awards recognize exemplary comics, graphic novels and other pop writings, and are given each year as part of the annual Comic-Con International convention. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 22nd during Comic-Con, at which VIZ Media will be a major exhibitor and participant in the programs offered. VIZ Media titles are consistently nominated for the Eisner Awards, and in 2008, took home the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan for TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, by acclaimed creator Taiyo Matsumoto.

The nominated titles from VIZ Media are:

HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES, by Natsume Ono
• Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Asia

NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS, by Naoki Urasawa
• Best Continuing Series
• Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

In addition, Naoki Urasawa is nominated for Best Writer/Artist, for his work on NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS.

“We are thrilled that VIZ Media has several nominees for the prestigious Eisner Awards,” states Alvin Lu, SVP and General Manager, VIZ Media. "The Eisners highlight the best in the comics industry each year, and we are honored to be considered among such a diverse group of nominees.”

Monday, April 18, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on RYDER ON THE STORM #3


RYDER ON THE STORM #3
RADICAL PUBLISHING
 
WRITER: David Hine
ARTIST: Wayne Nichols and Hugo Petrus
COLORS: Feigan Chong and Sansan Saw of Sixth Creation
LETTERS: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Francesco “Matt” Mattina
56pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Ryder on the Storm is a three-issue comic book miniseries from Radical Publishing. The concept rides several subgenres: supernatural-detective, horror fantasy, and action comic.

Written by David Hine and drawn by Wayne Nichols, the series focuses on Ryder, a private eye hired by a mysterious beauty to investigate the bizarre suicide of her lover. The crime is apparently tied to the Daemons, an ancient race that once ruled over the entire world, but now rules the city from behind the scenes and from beneath the streets.

As Ryder on the Storm #3 begins, the truth about the case that Ryder is investigating, the murder of Michael Hudson, is revealed. The number one suspect is Ryder’s client, Hudson’s lover, Katrina Petruska, and she has a gun pointed at Ryder. But the real action is yet to come. Ryder joins Charles Monk, the last Daemon hunter, in a final showdown with Rebecca Danton, the matriarch of the Dantons, a Daemon clan. Secrets, lies, and family ties are revealed.

Because of its smooth Film-Noir detective story and dark, urban fantasy vibe, Ryder on the Storm shocks with its sudden violent ending. As he did with FVZA: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, writer David Hine delivers grit and edgy horror and slick action side by side. Hine can take a hokey concept and use his dark imagination to transform it into an inventive, engaging comic book.

However, in the praise department, I cannot short artist Wayne Nichols. Nichols is quickly becoming one of the best artists of horror comic books. Nichols visualizes all the aspects of Hine’s script through his art, while making Ryder on the Storm’s gross horror go down smoothly like an extra-creamy milkshake

A-

http://www.radicalpublishing.com/

Kingo Used Books Meet Nekotama-do

I read Kingyo Used Books, Vol. 3

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


Sunday, April 17, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on Wilfred Santiago's 21 (OGN)


FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
CARTOONIST: Wilfred Santiago
ISBN: 978-1-56097-892-3; hardcover
126pp, 2-color, $22.99 US

The comic book biography is alive and well in 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente, a new graphic novel from Wilfred Santiago. Santiago worked for Milestone Media early in his career and is also the author of the graphic novel, In My Darkest Hour.

21 is the comic book biography of legendary Major League Baseball player, Roberto Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico. The graphic novel takes its title from the uniform number Clemente wore as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for whom he played his entire 18-year career. Clemente was also a tireless advocate for the poor and was involved in humanitarian work in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1934, Robert Clemente Walker would grow up to become the dominant baseball player of the 1960s. Roberto Clemente joined the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in 1954. He led them to World Series victories in 1960 (over the American League powerhouse, the New York Yankees) and 1971, when he also won the World Series Most Valuable Player award.

As a Latin American and person of color, Clemente faced prejudice throughout his career, but ultimately, the haters had to back down. Clemente’s intensity on the field won over the public and his athletic brilliance and aesthetic grace captured the imagination of baseball fans (and continues to do so). Tragically, Clemente died on December 31, 1972 when his plane went down in the Caribbean Sea. Ever the humanitarian, Clemente was on a relief mission to Nicaragua, which had been devastated by an earthquake.

In March of 1973, Clemente became the first Latin elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. That year, the Pirates also retired Clemente’s number, 21. Major League Baseball also gives the “Roberto Clemente Award” annually to the player who best exemplifies Clemente’s spirit as a humanitarian.

In 21, Wilfred Santiago, who was also born in Puerto Rico, uses the language of comic books to tell the story of Clemente’s life as something like the arc of the hero’s journey or as a heroic epic. In Chapter I, Santiago’s uses a graphical storytelling language that emphasizes simple shapes to create compositions. Circles, spheres, and straight lines dominate as Santiago creates characters as well as sets and background objects. This gives the first chapter a look similar to a children’s storybook, which in turns presents Clemente’s early life as a universal tale. His youth is a story like that of other children, but it also portends greater things.

In Chapter II, Santiago allows draftsmanship to take over the art as he chronicles Clemente’s journey to the United States and to his life as a professional baseball player. Clemente has left the idyllic youth of Puerto Rico behind for the “real” world where race defines a person’s status in society. Here, bigotry and prejudice even determine how people judge another’s accomplishments. Skin color even dictates if, where, and how a person of color can use public facilities. Here, the hero faces obstacles and enemies, overcoming one and winning over the others.

In Chapter III, 21’s shortest chapter, Santiago turns to graphic design and the use of graphics more so than traditional comic book page design. In this way, he creates a Clemente that is more than just a Major League Baseball player and who is larger than mere baseball superstar. The superstar is ultimately mortal, but by that for which he stood, the sports star rises and is eternal. In this final chapter, the story is as much symbolic and mythical as it is literal and real.

21 captures what made Clemente unique. However, Santiago uses the medium of the comic book in a unique way to tell the story of man who represents the best of us.

A-

http://www.wilfredsantiago.com/



Saturday, April 16, 2011

Bluewater Productions Announces Superhero Line

THE NEXT WAVE OF HEROES TO STRIKE BLUEWATER UNDER NEW BANNER

This Fall Bluewater Productions brings you a brand new world of superheroes. Art Director Gregg Paulson (Judo Girl, Paparazzi) and Line Editor AE Stueve (The Legend of Isis, The ABCs of Dinkology), along with a slew of artists and writers, are launching The Wave #0, Bluewater Productions' take on a shared universe. The line starts with The Wave #0 and leads into four four-issue mini-series revolving around mythological heroes and gods in modern times.

Bluewater intends to grab the serious attention of superhero fans. Though you've heard the names before, this is a brand new take, brand new concept, and brand new world. The upcoming titles include Artemis, Orion, Hercules, and Trident: The Power of Poseidon. Are you ready for The Wave?

"These comics will show the world that Bluewater Productions is not just about biography and property comics, but it can produce well written, beautifully drawn superhero stories as well. I think what the coolest thing though is that we are using the 'shared universe' formula familiar to fans of Marvel and DC, but right now we don't have a convoluted back-story of characters who, in some cases, have been around for nearly 100 years. That's not to say that it wouldn't be cool to create characters that are so awesome that in nearly 100 years the universe they share will be a convoluted mess. Because that would be cool. But hey, why not mention in our PR announcement one of the best advantages we've got over several other superhero comics these days?" --AE Stueve, line editor/writer Orion

Bluewater was founded on creating updated versions of different types of mythological characters such as 10th Muse (which launched at the 6th highest selling comic book) and Legend of Isis and Atlas ten years ago. “This is just another branch of books we are doing,” said Bluewater President Darren G. Davis. “As a kid I was fond of mythology, so I am excited to see what they are going to do with it.”


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/.

Friday, April 15, 2011

VIZ Kids Adds Five New Titles

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS VIZ KIDS IMPRINTWITH A FULL SLATE OF NEW ACQUISITIONS

New Titles Include Global Blockbuster Franchises MR. MEN AND LITTLE MISS, POKÉMON And VOLTRON FORCE, And Rising Stars MAMESHIBA and HERO 108

San Francisco, CA, April 11, 2011 – VIZ Media, the largest distributor of anime and manga in the United States, announced a full slate of acquisitions for its kids imprint, VIZ Kids. The acquisitions include DVD, Download-To-Own, and graphic novel licenses for a wide range of well-established global franchises.

“VIZ Media is excited to expand our kids imprint to include a variety of fun new properties,” said Elizabeth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director of VIZ Media. “These new titles use strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics and empowering themes to engage a younger generation of fans.”

• HERO 108 – VIZ Kids will be distributing DVDs of this popular series which airs on Cartoon Network. HERO 108 chronicles the battle for peace in the Hidden Kingdom. In addition, VIZ Kids will make the episodes available for download through iTunes. DVDs will be available in May 2011 while downloadable episodes will launch in June 2011.

• MAMESHIBA – The irresistibly cute and irrepressibly curious Mameshiba are not quite beans, not quite dogs--they’re a hybrid of both! VIZ Kids will release a graphic novel, MAMESHIBA: ON THE LOOSE!, and a character guide, MEET MAMESHIBA, in July 2011.

• POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE: VIZ Kids will release manga, a travel activity kit, and other select merchandise based on the most recent incarnation of the juggernaut POKÉMON™ video game franchise, Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. Meet all-new Pokémon from the fastest-selling Pokémon video games in history. The travel activity kit will be available in May 2011; Volumes 1 and 2 of the manga will be available in July 2011.

• MR. MEN AND LITTLE MISS – Mr. Happy, Little Miss Sunshine and all their Dillydale friends are about to take the graphic novel world by storm! Under the VIZ Kids imprint, VIZ Media will create and distribute original graphic novels starring the lovable MR. MEN and LITTLE MISSES. Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Bump, Mr. Strong and Little Miss Daredevil books will be available in Spring 2012.

• VOLTRON FORCE – Voltron®, the ultimate space adventure from the 1980s, is ready to take the world by storm again! VIZ Kids will produce and distribute original graphic novels based on the all-new animated series VOLTRON FORCEÔ, set to debut on Nicktoons this summer. VOLTRON FORCE reignites the story of five brave space explorers who pilot mighty robot lions that combine to form Voltron, Defender of the Universe. Joining the team are three new cadets, who have the opportunity of a lifetime to fight alongside their heroes and unlock incredible new powers. Let’s Voltron! The books will be available in Spring 2012.

HERO 108, MAMESHIBA, MR. MEN, and VOLTRON FORCE are unique acquisitions because they are properties not owned by any of VIZ Media’s parent companies, Shueisha, Shogakukan and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions. These acquisitions join an already robust manga and anime VIZ Kids library, which includes THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, PANDA MAN, TARO, BEYBLADE and DINOSAUR KING.

For more information on VIZ Kids, visit http://www.vizkids.com/.

House of Five Leaves Indebted

I read House of Five Leaves, Vol. 3

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


Thursday, April 14, 2011

"Black Dynamite" the Movie Screens to Promote Black Dynamite Comic Book

The Crest: Black Dynamite Screening

ASR Innertainment to host film screening of Black Dynamite to promote Black Dynamite Comic Book from Ape Entertainment

April 13, 2011: Released in 2009, Black Dynamite quickly became a cult smash and received a comic book treatment from Ars Nova and Ape Entertainment. Black Dynamite: Slave Island, everyone’s favorite Blaxploitation sensation will appear in a one-shot, bringing his Kung-Fu fighting skills in this sequential page as he shuts down the mysterious island where Black slavery still exists.

“Fans of the film will feel right at home with the comic,” states Ape Entertainment founder and co-publisher Brent E. Erwin. “It has all of the elements that made the movie a cultural phenomenon, and Black Dynamite himself is still as much of a bad dude on the page as he is on the screen.”

Black Dynamite was directed by Scott Sanders and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. The film stars Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite, a Kung-Fu fighting, gun blasting ladies’ man willing to fight from the ghetto streets all the way to the White House in his efforts to take down “The Man”.

“Although written for film, Black Dynamite was always meant to move beyond the camera,” continues Sanders. “As a medium, comic books seemed like such a logical step in Black Dynamite’s development as a character, and what better way to start then having him bring down the infamous Slave Island.”

Black Dynamite: Slave Island is based on a story by Michael Jai White, Myron Minns and Scott Sanders. Written by Brian Ash with pencils by Jun Lofamia, the 48-page on shot hit stores in February 2011.

As part of ASR Innertainment’s The Crest: Movie Series, the company will be holding two screenings of Black Dynamite. The first screening will be at the Crossroads Theater 2590 Washington Street Denver, CO. on Friday, April 15, 2011, from 6:00pm to 11:00pm, film starting at 7:45pm sharp. A reception will precede the first screening with food and beverages, with sounds provided by DJ Cavem (http://www.djcavem.com/).

The second screening with be next door at Coffee at The Point 710 East 26th Avenue, from 10:00pm to 2:00am for a midnight screening of Black Dynamite. Sounds will be provided by The Girl Grabbers (www.facebook.com/girlgrabbers) from 10:30pm to 11:30pm. A closing reception will follow the second screening with food, beverages and promotional materials, including limited copies of the limited edition comic book, Black Dynamite: Slave Island, as well as Black Dynamite merchandise for purchase at booth screenings.

For More Information on ASR Innertainment, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/ASR-Innertainment/132894606761823?sk=wall

For More Information on Black Dynamite, visit http://www.blackdynamite.com/.

For More Information on Ape Entertainment, visit http://www.ape-entertainment/

For More Information on Ars Nova, visit http://www.arsnovaent.com/

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

John Cory on the L Word - Liberal

Love Me, I'm a Liberal
By John Cory, Reader Supported News
11 April 11
Reader Supported News
Perspective

"If God did not want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep." - Calvero from The Magnificent Seven

So, Mr. Obama saved us from a government shutdown. That's good, right?

I don't think so, but then, I'm not part of the hoi polloi that runs this joint.

Listen to the spin coming from the Democrats and Mr. Obama using their upside down language of "... reducing spending while still investing in the future is just common sense ..."

We are not investing in America by these spending cuts, but rather breaking the great Republic into more pieces for sale to the lowest corporate bidder. This is the privatization of America and the turning of citizens into sharecroppers.

Gore Vidal said it best:

"America has only one political party - the property party. It's the party of big corporations, the party of money. And it has two right wings, one is Democrat and the other is Republican."

Let's be honest here - Obama and Democrats may have dodged a shutdown but they joined the shakedown. And it is going to keep coming: the debt ceiling vote, 2012 budget vote, the GOP Medicare fraud of Paul Ryan and the selling off of our educational system to privateers who will and are turning colleges and public schools into corporate vocational-training centers. Training tomorrow's corporate citizens in conformity and consumerism. Digby posted this scene from Network a while back and it is worth watching again. Satire turned into reality.

Glenn Beck warned that we had elected Malcolm X, but it turns out we elected Malcolm-In-The-Middle. Wherever the "middle" is. And while Mr. Obama and the Democrats pat themselves on the back for "historic cuts" and keeping the corporation government open for business and tell us how compromise is necessary and how both sides came out a winner - I'd like to take this moment to say: Bullshit! This ain't T-Ball where everyone gets a trophy just for playing, Mr. President!

And the Democratic Party is flooding my inbox with pleas for money and support to fight the craven GOP and re-elect Mr. Obama for the sake of the country. Oh Please!

In the intro to his song, Love Me, I'm a Liberal, Phil Ochs said: "In every American community you have varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals ... Ten degrees to the left of center in good times. Ten degrees to the right of center if it affects them personally."

The last verse of Love Me, I'm a Liberal is particularly apropos:

"Once I was young and impulsive,
I wore every conceivable pin,
Even went to the socialist meetings,
Learned all the old union hymns.
But now I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in,
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal."

I miss Phil Ochs, and voices like his. We don't need more liberals in this country - we need more radicals.

The millionaires in Congress do not represent We, The People and the government is nothing more than a subsidiary of the corporate state. That is a fact we need to recognize and acknowledge and fight.

We voted for Obama to stop the wars, close Guantanamo, re-instate civil liberties, hold the wealthy accountable for their destructive greed, and to protect the everyday workers and the poor. The Democrats shouted how bad it would be if the Republicans and their Tea Party gained more power. Remember? How's that working out for you, America?

The Wall Street Wizards of Oz are making more money than ever while Democrats join Republicans in preaching sermons of restraint and sacrifice to those who are losing everything. Banks (Wachovia/Wells Fargo) profit from laundering Mexican drug money, foreclosing on homes, and charging fees to access your own money and still, they promote the gospel of greed and gluttony. The corporate personhood is indeed special because when they commit crimes, they simply use their ill-gotten gains to lobby for deregulation so that their crimes become un-crimes, more like "free market" faux pas. Pay the fine without admitting guilt and let's move on. I wonder if that would work for me if I robbed a bank?

And don't look to our modern media for elucidation or honesty. Those are commodities with no built-in profit margin. Sensationalism, snark and circus acts bring viewership to the business of covering politics. That's where the money is. There is only time for ads, egos and entertainment, not ethics or education.

In his 1958 speech on media and news in Chicago, Edward R. Murrow warned of the future:

"I began by saying that our history will be what we make it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge, and retribution will not limp in catching up with us ... This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box ..."

We stand on the edge of a cliff and Mr. Obama and the Democrats keep telling us to step right up, and we say, but it's a cliff, and they say, but it's the only way forward. They call it: Winning the future. I call it: Bullshit. Suicidal bullshit.

I'm a radical - a poor radical - but if I had fifty bucks you can bet the Democrats wouldn't get a nickel. I'd donate ten bucks to Planned Parenthood so someone's sister or daughter could have health services, ten bucks to the neighborhood free health clinic so the poor and unemployed could get treatment for their family's illnesses, ten bucks for independent media like Link TV and NPR, ten bucks to self-help veteran organizations because the corporate government that profits so handsomely from war fails to care for soldiers and veterans, and finally, ten bucks for whatever organization distributes the works of Howard Zinn, Emma Goldman, Dr. King, and Molly Ivins and Naomi Klein and Thom Hartmann and Jim Hightower and Andrew Bacevich and Bill Moyers and scores of others.

Sound radical? It is. But that is exactly what the neo-conservative right wing has been doing for over twenty years. Where have the liberal Democrats been?

I read that Mr. Obama and the Democrats will raise $1 Billion Dollars for the 2012 re-election campaign. Wow. Just wow. In a struggling economy I wonder where they will find all that money?

Oh well, sing along with me everyone: "Love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal!"

-PEACE­-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

Original article is here.

Case Closed and the Shadow of the Wolves

I read Case Closed, Vol. 38 (Case Closed (Graphic Novels))

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



DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

DC COMICS

FEB110167 ADVENTURE COMICS #525 $2.99

FEB110236 ALL NEW BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #6 $2.99

JUL100281 AME COMI DUELA DENT AS THE JOKER VINYL FIGURE $70.00

JUL100280 AME COMI JESSE QUICK AS THE FLASH VINYL FIGURE $70.00

JAN110424 AREA 10 TP (MR) $12.99

FEB110159 BATGIRL #20 $2.99

FEB110153 BATMAN AND ROBIN #22 $2.99

FEB110160 BIRDS OF PREY #11 $2.99

FEB110170 BOOSTER GOLD #43 $2.99

JAN110325 BOOSTER GOLD PAST IMPERFECT TP $17.99

FEB110254 CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER #3 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

FEB110190 DC COMICS PRESENTS BATMAN ARKHAM #1 $7.99

FEB110171 DOC SAVAGE #13 $2.99

DEC100280 EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 05 (MR) $29.99

NOV100194 FLASH #10 (FLASHPOINT) $2.99

JAN110323 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS TP VOL 01 UNION $17.99

FEB110246 INFAMOUS #3 (OF 6) $2.99

FEB110124 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #23 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

DEC100249 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST HC VOL 01 $39.99

JUN100305 KILLZONE SER 1 HELGHAST ASSAULT INFANTRY AF PI

JUN100304 KILLZONE SER 1 HELGHAST SNIPER AF PI

FEB110264 NORTHLANDERS #39 (MR) $2.99

JAN110278 OUTSIDERS #38 $2.99

FEB110182 REBELS #27 $2.99

FEB110149 RED ROBIN #22 $2.99

DEC100252 SPIRIT ANGEL SMERTI TP $17.99

FEB110140 SUPERBOY #6 (DOOMSDAY) $2.99

FEB110161 SUPERMAN #710 $2.99

JAN110332 SUPERMAN CODENAME PATRIOT TP $14.99

FEB110184 THUNDER AGENTS #6 $2.99

FEB110186 TITANS #34 $2.99

FEB110271 UNWRITTEN #24 (MR) $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

MARVEL COMICS

FEB110551 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #658 BIG $3.99

FEB110693 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 659 BY STEFANO CASELLI POSTER $8.99

FEB110575 BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR #517 $2.99

FEB110558 CARNAGE #4 (OF 5) $3.99

FEB110637 CASANOVA GULA #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

FEB110677 CHAOS WAR AVENGERS TP $19.99

FEB110619 DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #8 $2.99

FEB110515 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER LITTLE SISTERS ELURIA #5 (OF 5) $3.99

FEB110603 DEADPOOL #35 $2.99

FEB110678 DEADPOOL CORPS TP VOL 01 POOL-POCALYPSE NOW $16.99

JAN118112 FANTASTIC FOUR #588 2ND PTG DAVIS VAR (PP #961) $3.99

FEB110518 FORMIC WARS BURNING EARTH #4 (OF 7) $3.99

DEC108359 FREE FEAR ITSELF #2 POSTER PI

JAN110832 HALO FALL OF REACH PREM HC BOOT CAMP (MR) $19.99

FEB110591 HAWKEYE: BLIND SPOT #3 (OF 4) $2.99

FEB110599 HOUSE OF M MGC #1 $1.00

FEB110564 INCREDIBLE HULKS #626 $2.99

FEB110650 INVADERS NOW HC $24.99

JAN110727 IRON MAN 2.0 #3 $2.99

FEB110510 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #622 FEAR $3.99

FEB110692 MIGHTY THOR BY TRAVIS CHAREST POSTER $8.99

FEB110534 NEW AVENGERS #11 $3.99

JAN118111 NEW MUTANTS #22 2ND PTG KURTH VAR (PP #961) $2.99

FEB110592 ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED #3 (OF 4) $3.99

FEB110636 PUNISHERMAX #12 (MR) $3.99

FEB110668 RUNAWAYS TP VOL 01 PRIDE AND JOY DIGEST NEW PTG $9.99

FEB110593 SECRET WARRIORS #26 $2.99

FEB110675 SENSE AND SENSIBILITY GN TP $14.99

FEB110594 SHIELD INFINITY $4.99

JAN110861 STEPHEN KINGS N TP $19.99

FEB110542 STEVE ROGERS SUPER SOLDIER ANNUAL #1 $3.99

FEB110569 SUPER HEROES #13 $2.99

OCT100671 THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON OMNIBUS HC $125.00

OCT100672 THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON OMNIBUS HC CLASSIC DM VAR CVR $125.00

FEB110550 THOR WHOSOEVER WIELDS THIS HAMMER #1 $4.99

FEB110526 ULTIMATE AVENGERS VS NEW ULTIMATES #3 (OF 6) DOSM $3.99

FEB110663 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS PREM HC BLADE VS AVENGERS $24.99

FEB110524 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #157 DOSM $3.99

FEB110601 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR MGC #1 $1.00

FEB110629 UNCANNY X-FORCE #7 $3.99

FEB110666 UNCANNY X-FORCE PREM HC APOCALYPSE SOLUTION $19.99

FEB110611 UNCANNY X-MEN #535 $3.99

FEB110656 WARRIORS THREE HC DOG DAY AFTERNOON $24.99

FEB110618 WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS CONTAGION #1 $4.99

FEB110667 X-23 PREM HC VOL 01 KILLING DREAM $19.99

OCT100686 X-FORCE UNDER GUN PREM HC $34.99

OCT100687 X-FORCE UNDER GUN PREM HC DM VAR ED 61 $34.99

JAN118110 X-MEN LEGACY #245 2ND PTG MANN VAR (PP #961) $2.99

FEB110626 X-MEN LEGACY #247 AGEX $2.99

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

IDW from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB110343 ANGEL 100 PG SPECTACULAR $7.99

JAN110535 ETERNAL DESCENT TP VOL 01 $24.99

FEB110323 GI JOE COBRA #1 100 PENNY PRESS $1.00

FEB110299 GI JOE COBRA COMMANDER TRIBUTE 100 PG SPECTACULAR $7.99

FEB110295 GI JOE VOL 2 #0 $3.99

FEB110333 JOHN BYRNE NEXT MEN #5 $3.99

FEB110345 SPIKE #7 (OF 8) $3.99

FEB110319 STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #1 100 PENNY PRESS $1.00

FEB110311 TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #18 $3.99

FEB110305 TRANSFORMERS RISING STORM #3 (OF 4) $3.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC100087 FLASH GORDON COMIC BOOK ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 $49.99

JAN110143 GOON VS MR WICKER MENS T/S LG $17.99

JAN110135 GOON W/ LOGO MENS T/S LG $17.99

JAN110134 GOON W/ LOGO MENS T/S MED $17.99

JAN110136 GOON W/ LOGO MENS T/S XL $17.99

JAN110137 GOON W/ LOGO MENS T/S XXL $19.99

FEB110013 HELLBOY BUSTER OAKLEY GETS HIS WISH $3.50

JAN110159 HELLBOY MENS WILD HUNT T/S LG $17.99

JAN110158 HELLBOY MENS WILD HUNT T/S MED $17.99

JAN110160 HELLBOY MENS WILD HUNT T/S XL $17.99

JAN110161 HELLBOY MENS WILD HUNT T/S XXL $19.99

JAN110150 HELLBOY W/ SKELETON MENS T/S MED $17.99

JAN110152 HELLBOY W/ SKELETON MENS T/S XL $17.99

JAN110153 HELLBOY W/ SKELETON MENS T/S XXL $19.99

JAN110163 HELLBOY WOMENS WILD HUNT T/S MED $24.99

DEC100071 STAR WARS INVASION TP VOL 02 RESCUES $17.99

OCT100138 TIM BURTON PIN CUSHION QUEEN 9 INCH VINYL FIGURE $29.99

OCT100137 TIM BURTON ROBOT BOY 7 & HALF INCH VINYL FIGURE $29.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

IMAGE COMICS

SEP100443 BATTLE CHASERS ANTHOLOGY HC $100.00

SEP100444 BATTLE CHASERS ANTHOLOGY HC S/N LTD ED $150.00

MAY100509 BROKEN TRINITY PANDORAS BOX #6 (OF 6) $3.99

FEB118096 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #1 VAR CVR 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

FEB110452 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #2 (MR) $2.99

FEB118003 CARBON GREY #1 VAR CVR 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

FEB110454 CARBON GREY #2 (MR) $2.99

DEC100455 ELEPHANTMEN COVER STORIES #1 $5.99

SEP100459 GIRLS & GODDESSES PIN UP ART OF JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER TP (MR) $24.99

DEC100481 INFINITE VACATION #2 $3.50

FEB118004 INTREPIDS #1 VAR CVR 2ND PTG $2.99

FEB110463 LIL DEPRESSED BOY #3 $2.99

FEB110474 SPAWN #206 (RES) $2.99

SEP100499 SWEETS #5 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99

FEB110398 WALKING DEAD SURVIVORS GUIDE #1 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

FEB110411 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #15 (MR) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for April 13 2011

COMICS

JAN110946 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #213 $3.99

FEB110897 BEAR NUTS GN VOL 02 (MR) $19.99

JAN111349 BREAKNECK #1 (OF 3) (MR) $2.99

JAN111350 BUCK #1 (MR) $2.99

JAN111378 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 38 $9.99

DEC108211 CHARISMAGIC #0 COVER D LOPEZ 2ND PTG (PP #958) $1.99

DEC101047 CLINT #6 (MR) $6.99

JAN111355 COMPLETE WENDEL SC (MR) $24.95

JAN111370 CROSS GAME TP VOL 03 $14.99

JAN111307 DANCE IN THE VAMPIRE BUND GAIDEN GN (MR) $10.99

FEB111062 DARK AGE DOMINION GN VOL 01 (OF 3) $19.99

FEB111029 DAWN SKETCHBOOK ANN $4.99

JAN111121 DEAN KOONTZ NEVERMORE #1 (OF 6) $3.99

FEB110937 DEATH OF ZORRO #2 $3.99

NOV100915 DF VAMPIRELLA #3 LTD ED CVR $14.99

FEB110865 DONALD DUCK #365 $3.99

JAN111379 EXCEL SAGA TP VOL 22 $9.99

FEB110840 FARSCAPE #18 $3.99

NOV100717 FRAGGLE ROCK VOL 2 #3 (OF 3) $3.95

FEB110808 FRANCIS SHARP IN GRIP OF UNCANNY GN CHAPTER 01 (OF 4) $10.00

JAN111327 FUTURE DIARY GN VOL 10 (OF 10) (MR) $10.99

JAN111329 GAKUEN ALICE GN VOL 16 (OF 21) $10.99

JAN110915 GOLD DIGGER #127 $3.99

DEC100721 GOLD DIGGER TECH MANUAL TP $19.99

JAN111143 GRANT MORRISON 18 DAYS HC MORRISON SGN ED (MR) $49.99

FEB110972 GREEN HORNET BLOOD TIES TP $16.99

JAN111403 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #58 $2.99

JAN111380 HYDE & CLOSER TP VOL 04 $9.99

FEB110699 INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE #2 (MR) $6.49

JAN111373 ITSUWARIBITO GN VOL 02 $9.99

JAN110949 JUGHEAD CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT TP $9.95

JAN110950 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #169 $3.99

JAN111336 KARAKURI ODETTE GN VOL 06 (OF 6) $12.99

JAN111372 KEKKAISHI GN VOL 25 $9.99

OCT100951 KEVIN SMITH KATO #9 $3.99

FEB110713 KUNG FU PANDA 2 MOVIE PREQUEL TP $6.95

FEB110718 LADIES O/T NIGHT ONE SHOT (MR) $3.50

FEB110878 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #4 $3.99

FEB110879 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #4 WRAP CVR $3.99

NOV100781 LEAST I COULD DO TP VOL 04 WISH YOU WERE CHEWBACCA $11.95

FEB110867 MICKEY MOUSE & ORBITING NIGHTMARE TP $9.99

JAN111330 NEKO RAMEN GN VOL 04 $10.99

JAN111335 NG LIFE GN VOL 09 (OF 9) (NOTE PRICE) $12.99

NOV100762 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

NOV100763 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #4 (OF 5) GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV100764 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #4 (OF 5) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB110777 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD 2011 ANNUAL (MR) $3.99

FEB110778 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD 2011 ANNUAL GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB110779 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD 2011 ANNUAL WRAPAROUND CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB111011 ONWARD TOWARDS OUR NOBLE DEATHS GN (MR) $24.95

JAN111075 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES #4 (OF 4) ALEX ROSS CVR B (RES) $3.99

JAN111074 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES #4 (OF 4) JUSKO CVR A (RES) $3.99

FEB110881 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES TP VOL 01 BK MKT ED (RES) $19.99

FEB110882 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES TP VOL 01 DIRECT MKT ED (RES) $19.99

JAN111325 PRIEST PURGATORY GN (MR) $17.99

JAN111332 RATMAN GN VOL 04 (MR) $10.99

JAN111145 RED SONJA REVENGE O/T GODS #2 (OF 5) $3.99

NOV100898 ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #9 $3.99

JAN111275 SALT WATER TAFFY GN VOL 04 CALDERAS REVENGE $5.99

JAN111331 SHINOBI LIFE GN VOL 07 (OF 7) $10.99

JAN111328 SILVER DIAMOND GN VOL 09 (OF 20) $10.99

FEB110831 SPONGEBOB COMICS #2 $2.99

FEB110856 STAN LEE STARBORN #5 $3.99

FEB111196 ULTIMO GN VOL 04 $9.99

JAN111334 VB ROSE GN VOL 12 (OF 14) $10.99

FEB110929 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #2 $3.99

FEB110888 WIND IN WILLOWS CAMPFIRE GN $9.99

JAN111371 YAKITATE JAPAN TP VOL 26 (OF 26) $9.99

MAGAZINES

JAN111427 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1677 MAY 2011 $5.99

DEC101149 JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #56 $10.95

FEB111835 KOBOLD QUARTERLY MAGAZINE #15 $7.99

FEB111836 KOBOLD QUARTERLY MAGAZINE #16 $7.99

NOV101158 MEGAMI FEB 2011 PI

FEB111286 MONSTER BASH #11 $8.99

NOV101159 NEWTYPE FEB 2011 $16.00

JAN111698 PLAYTIMES VOL 2 #1 $10.50

JAN111449 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #110 $9.95

FEB111146 STAR WARS CLONE WARS MAGAZINE #4 $4.99

FEB111308 SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE #24 NEWSSTAND ED $6.99

FEB111309 SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE #24 PX ED $6.99

Excel Saga Lies and Misunderstandings

I read Excel Saga, Vol. 22

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


Monday, April 11, 2011

2011 Eisner Award Nominations List

The 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees

 
Best Short Story
  •  "Bart on the Fourth of July," by Peter Kuper, in Bart Simpson #54 (Bongo)
  •  "Batman, in Trick for the Scarecrow," by Billy Tucci, in DCU Halloween Special 2010 (DC)
  •  "Cinderella," by Nick Spencer and Rodin Esquejo, in Fractured Fables (Silverline Books/Image)
  •  "Hamburgers for One," by Frank Stockton, in Popgun vol. 4 (Image)
  •  "Little Red Riding Hood," by Bryan Talbot and Camilla d'Errico, in Fractured Fables (Silverline Books/Image)
  •  "Post Mortem," by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger #2 (Marvel)

 
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
  • The Cape, by Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella, and Zack Howard (IDW)
  • Fables #100, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and others (Vertigo/DC)
  • Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
  • Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #1: "Sparrow," by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
  • Unknown Soldier #21: "A Gun in Africa," by Joshua Dysart and Rick Veitch (Vertigo/DC)

 
Best Continuing Series
  • Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)
  • Echo, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
  • Locke & Key, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
  • Morning Glories, by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (Shadowline/Image)
  • Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
  • Scalped, by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guéra (Vertigo/DC)

 Best Limited Series
  • Baltimore: The Plague Ships, by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Ben Stenbeck (Dark Horse)
  • Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love, by Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus (Vertigo/DC)
  • Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)
  • Joe the Barbarian, by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy (Vertigo/DC)
  • Stumptown, by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth (Oni)

 
Best New Series

American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

iZombie, by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred (Vertigo/DC)

Marineman, by Ian Churchill (Image)

Morning Glories, by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (Shadowline/Image)

Superboy, by Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo (DC)

 
Best Publication for Kids

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean, by Sara Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney/Hyperion)

Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know), by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

Binky to the Rescue, by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press)

Scratch9, by Rob M. Worley and Jason T. Kruse (Ape Entertainment)

Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

The Unsinkable Walker Bean, by Aaron Renier (First Second)

 
Best Publication for Teens

Ghostopolis, by Doug TenNapel (Scholastic Graphix)

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, by Barry Deutsch (Amulet Books)

Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)

Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic Graphix)

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, by G. Neri and Randy DuBurke (Lee & Low)

 
Best Humor Publication

Afrodisiac, by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca (Adhouse)

Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book, by Ian Boothby, John Delaney, and Dan Davis (Bongo)

Drinking at the Movies, by Julia Wertz (Three Rivers Press/Crown)

I Thought You Would Be Funnier, by Shannon Wheeler (BOOM!)

Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing Against TV Since 1953, by Dave Kellett (Small Fish Studios)

Prime Baby, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)

 
Best Anthology

The Anthology Project, edited by Joy Ang and Nick Thornborrow (Lucidity Press)

Korea as Viewed by 12 Creators, edited by Nicolas Finet (Fanfare&midot;Ponent Mon)

Liquid City, vol. 2, edited by Sonny Liew and Lim Cheng Tju (Image)

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, edited by Paul Morrissey and David Petersen (Archaia)

Trickster: Native American Tales, edited by Matt Dembicki (Fulcrum Books)

 
Best Digital Comic

Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, www.abominable.cc

The Bean, by Travis Hanson, www.beanleafpress.com

Lackadaisy, by Tracy Butler, www.lackadaisycats.com/comic.php

Max Overacts, by Caanan Grall, occasionalcomics.com

Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil, www.zahrasparadise.com

 
Best Reality-Based Work

It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Picture This: The Nearsighted Monkey Book, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)

Special Exits: A Graphic Memoir, by Joyce Farmer (Fantagraphics)

Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Terrible Axe Man of New Orleans, by Rick Geary (NBM)

Two Generals, by Scott Chantler (McClelland & Stewart)

You'll Never Know Book 2: Collateral Damage, by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)

 
Best Graphic Album-New

Elmer, by Gerry Alanguilan (SLG)

Finding Frank and His Friend: Previously Unpublished Work by Clarence ‘Otis' Dooley, by Melvin Goodge (Curio & Co.)

Market Day, by James Sturm (Drawn & Quarterly)

Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)

Wilson, by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)

 
Best Graphic Album-Reprint 
The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

Motel Art Improvement Service, by Jason Little (Dark Horse)

The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Crisis, by Ian Boothby, James Lloyd, and Steve Steere Jr. (Abrams Comicarts)

Tumor, by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon (Archaia)

Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

 
Best Adaptation from Another Work

Dante's Divine Comedy, adapted by Seymour Chwast (Bloomsbury)

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, adapted by Joann Sfar (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

7 Billion Needles, vols. 1 and 2, adapted from Hal Clement's Needle by Nobuaki Tadano (Vertical)

Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure, adapted by Charlie Higson and Kev Walker (Disney/Hyperion Books)

 
Best Archival Collection/Project-Strips

Archie: The Complete Daily Newspaper Strips, 1946–1948, by Bob Montana, edited by Greg Goldstein (IDW)

40: A Doonesbury Retrospective, by G. B. Trudeau (Andrews McMeel)

George Heriman's Krazy Kat: A Celebration of Sundays, edited by Patrick McDonnell and Peter Maresca (Sunday Press Books)

Polly and Her Pals Complete Sunday Comics, vol. 1, by Cliff Sterrett, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW)

Roy Crane's Captain Easy, vol. 1, edited by Rick Norwood (Fantagraphics)

 
Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Books

Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer Artist's Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn't Want You to Read!, edited by Jim Trombetta (Abrams Comicart)

The Incal Classic Collection, by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius (Humanoids)

Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts, edited by Art Spiegelman (The Library of America)

Thirteen "Going on Eighteen," by John Stanley (Drawn & Quarterly)

 
Best U.S. Edition of International Material

It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

The Killer: Modus Vivendi, by Matz and Luc Jacamon (Archaia)

King of the Flies, Book One: Hallorave, by Mezzo and Pirus (Fantagraphics)

The Littlest Pirate King, by David B. and Pierre Mac Orlan (Fantagraphics)

Salvatore, by Nicolas De Crécy (NBM)

 
Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia

Ayako, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)

Bunny Drop, by Yumi Unita (Yen Press)

A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, by Moto Hagio (Fantagraphics)

House of Five Leaves, by Natsume Ono (VIZ Media)

Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

 
Best Writer

  • Ian Boothby, Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book; Futurama Comics #47–50; Simpsons Comics #162, 168; Simpsons Super Spectacular #11–12 (Bongo)
  • Joe Hill, Locke & Key (IDW)
  • John Layman, Chew (Image)
  • Jim McCann, Return of the Dapper Men (Archaia)
  • Nick Spencer, Morning Glories, Shuddertown, Forgetless, Existence 3.0 (Image)
Best Writer/Artist

Dan Clowes, Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly)

Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark's Pker: The Outfit (IDW)

Joe Kubert, Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 (DC)

Terry Moore, Echo (Abstract Studio)

James Sturm, Market Day (Drawn & Quarterly)

Naoki Urasawa, Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys (VIZ Media)

 
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Richard Corben, Hellboy (Dark Horse)

Stephen DeStefano, Lucky in Love Book One: A Poor Man's Story (Fantagraphics)

Rob Guillory, Chew (Image)

Gabriel Rodriguez, Locke & Key (IDW)

Skottie Young, The Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel)

 
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Lynda Barry, Picture This: The Nearsighted Monkey Book (Drawn & Quarterly)

Brecht Evens, The Wrong Place (Drawn & Quarterly)

Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)

Janet Lee, Return of the Dapper Men (Archaia)

Eric Liberge, On the Odd Hours (NBM)

Carol Tyler, You'll Never Know Book 2: Collateral Damage (Fantagraphics)

 
Best Cover Artist

Rodin Esquejo, Morning Glories (Shadowline/Image)

Dave Johnson, Abe Sapien: The Abyssal Plain (Dark Horse); Unknown Soldier (Vertigo/DC); Punisher/Max, Deadpool (Marvel)

Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse)

David Petersen, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard (Archaia)

Yuko Shimizu, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)

 
Best Coloring

  • Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know), Amelia Rules!: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
  • Metaphrog (Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers), Louis: Night Salad (Metaphrog)
  • Dave Stewart, Hellboy, BPRD, Baltimore, Let Me In (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Neil Young's Greendale, Daytripper, Joe the Barbarian (Vertigo/DC)
  • Hilary Sycamore, City of Spies, Resistance, Booth, Brain Camp, Solomon's Thieves (First Second)
  • Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Lettering

  • Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark's Parker: The Outfit (IDW)
  • Dan Clowes, Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know), Amelia Rules!: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
  • Todd Klein, Fables, The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom (WildStorm/DC); SHIELD (Marvel); Driver for the Dead (Radical)
  • Doug TenNapel, Ghostopolis (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

Best Comics-Related Book

  • Doonesbury and the Art of G. B. Trudeau, by Brian Walker (Yale University Press)
  • Fire and Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics, by Blake Bell (Fantagraphics)
  • The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen, by Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein, edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz (Dark Horse Books)
  • Shazam! The Golden Age of the World's Mightiest Mortal, by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear (Abrams Comicarts)
  • 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, by Paul Levitz (TASCHEN)
Best Publication Design
  • Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer Artist's Edition, designed by Randall Dahlk (IDW)
  • Polly and Her Pals Complete Sunday Comics, vol. 1, designed by Lorraine Turner and Dean Mullaney (IDW)
  • Return of the Dapper Men, designed by Todd Klein (Archaia)
  • 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, designed by Josh Baker (TASCHEN)
  • Two Generals, designed by Jennifer Lum (McClelland & Stewart)  
Hall of Fame:

 
Judges' Choices:
Ernie Bushmiller
Jack Jackson
Martin Nodell
Lynd Ward