Friday, May 31, 2013

Review: THE SHADOW: Year One #3

THE SHADOW: YEAR ONE #3
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

WRITER: Matt Wagner
ARTIST: Wilfredo Torres
COLORS: Brennan Wagner
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVERS: Matt Wagner (A), Alex Ross (B), Chris Samnee (C), Howard Chaykin (D)
The Shadow created by Walter B. Gibson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Dynamite Entertainment returned The Shadow to comic books. The Shadow: Year One is Dynamite’s latest comic book series featuring the dark avenger who knows what fear lurks in the hearts of men.

This new miniseries imagines the beginnings of The Shadow’s campaign against crime and is written by Matt Wagner and drawn by Wilfredo Torres. The adventure begins in Cambodia, 1929 and moves to New York City on October 30, 1929. That’s when wealthy, world traveler and adventurer, Lamont Cranston, becomes The Shadow and begins a war on evil in America.

As The Shadow: Year One #3 opens, an insurance broker named Fellowes is summoned before crime boss, Carlo Luppino, AKA “the Dandy Don.” Luppino wants a new agent for his criminal enterprise, but The Shadow is also seeking agents. Meanwhile, after inviting herself into his home, Margo Lane confronts Lamont Cranston.

Because it emphasizes confrontation and violence (of course), The Shadow: Year One #3 is the best issue of the series since the first issue. In fact, this third issue is a big improvement over issue #2, which writer Matt Wagner used to establish what are likely to be the dominate plot lines of this miniseries. That was a dialogue-heavy issue, with an emphasis on establishing the personalities, conflicts, motivations, etc. of the cast – besides The Shadow. There is not a thing wrong with that; it simply came across as flat in its execution.

Issue #3, however, is about bad guys, the kind of fictional violent, remorseless killers that deserve to have the sword of justice brought down on them. Thank goodness that Matt Wagner finally, really unleashes The Shadow’s pistols. Honestly, I didn’t know that I was that crazy about cap-popping in comic books; after all, I haven’t read The Punisher in years. Wagner also has some fun with the Lamont Cranston/Margo Lane dynamic; it’s good to see them go at each other.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Review: B.P.R.D. VAMPIRE #3

B.P.R.D. VAMPIRE #3 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Mike Mignola, Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon
ART: Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Fábio Moon
EDITOR: Scott Allie
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (May 2013)

Mike Mignola, Gabriel Bá, and Fábio Moon have united for B.P.R.D.: Vampire, a five-issue miniseries. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) protects America and the rest of the world from the occult, the paranormal, and the supernatural. Beginning with its own title, B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth, the B.P.R.D. series focuses on the team and sometimes individual agents.

B.P.R.D.: Vampire is a direct sequel to B.P.R.D.: 1948 and is separate from the main B.P.R.D. series. Set in 1948, Vampire follows Agent Simon Anders and his quest for revenge against a clan of vampires and its Gorgon-eyed queen, Hecate. After consulting “witch maps,” Anders travels to Cesky Krumlov, Czechoslovakia. There, he and his guide, Hana Novarov, who is from the Krumlov History Museum, begin a quest to find Krumlov Castle.

As B.P.R.D.: Vampire #3 opens, Anders and Hana find the castle, or actually, they fall into it. Once inside, Anders meets the conniving sisters, Katharina and Annaliese. His big meeting is with the master of the castle, who tells him of a horrific bargain he made centuries ago. It turns out, however, that both Anders and the master have things to learn, but will the bloodthirsty Anders stay calm long enough to learn anything?

Individual issues of the B.P.R.D.: Vampire series are quick reads. There is not a lot of dialogue and little exposition, but the main reason this is a quick read is because the story is so engaging it just demands to be read.

I can’t help but race through the pages to view the visually arresting art by Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon, with its graphically striking colors by Dave Stewart. Stylistically and visually, this series recalls the early black and white horror films of Italian filmmaker, Mario Bava (Black Sunday).

Also, the story twists and turns like a reptile in clumsy hands, waiting to strike the unprepared, but attracted reader with revelations and with changes in character. B.P.R.D.: Vampire is heading for a smashing ending.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Saturn Apartments: The Final Volume

I read Saturn Apartments, Vol. 7

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

DC COMICS

SEP120255 ABSOLUTE TOP TEN HC $99.99

MAR130253 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #1 $3.99

JAN130307 BATMAN NOIR EDUARDO RISSO DELUXE ED HC $24.99

MAR130209 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT ANNUAL #1 $4.99

MAR130219 CATWOMAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99

MAR130187 EARTH 2 ANNUAL #1 $4.99

MAR130293 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #5 $3.99

MAR130163 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4 $3.99

MAR130166 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4 COMBO PACK $4.99

FEB130247 LUCIFER TP VOL 01 (MR) $29.99

JAN130313 NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 (RES) $75.00

FEB130210 PHANTOM STRANGER TP VOL 01 A STRANGER AMONG US (N52) $14.99

MAR130223 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS ANNUAL #1 $4.99

MAR130262 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL #1 $4.99

FEB130214 SUPERBOY TP VOL 02 EXTRACTION (N52) $14.99

MAR130295 WAKE #1 (MR) $2.99

FEB130225 WATCHMEN THE DELUXE ED HC $39.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

MARVEL COMICS

MAR138132 AGE OF ULTRON #5 2ND PTG HITCH VAR $3.99

MAR130722 ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 02 HERE TO STAY $24.99

MAR130750 AVENGERS COMPLETE COLL BY GEOFF JOHNS TP VOL 01 $29.99

MAR130672 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #21 $3.99

MAR130650 CAPTAIN AMERICA #7 NOW2 $3.99

MAR130696 CAPTAIN UNIVERSE HERO WHO COULD BE YOU $7.99

MAR130693 DARK AVENGERS #190 $2.99

MAR130727 DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 DEAD PRESIDENTS NOW $15.99

FEB138451 DOCTOR STRANGE TP OATH NEW PTG $19.99

MAR130709 FURY MAX #12 (MR) $3.99

MAR130705 GAMBIT #13 $2.99

MAR138134 HAWKEYE #9 2ND PTG AJA VAR $2.99

MAR130652 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #8 NOW $3.99

MAR130677 IRON MAN #258.4 $3.99

MAR130748 MARVEL NOIR TP SPIDER-MAN PUNISHER $34.99

MAR130744 MONSTERS INC DIGEST TP $9.99

MAR130661 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #5 NOW $2.99

MAR130633 NEW AVENGERS #6 NOW $3.99

MAR130745 PUNISHER TP ENTER WAR ZONE $16.99

MAR130645 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #5 NOW $3.99

MAR130746 SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 01 NEW PTG $24.99

MAR130724 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 MY OWN WORST ENEMY NOW $17.99

MAR130725 THOR GOD OF THUNDER PREM HC VOL 01 GOD BUTCHER $24.99

MAR130740 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 01 $19.99

MAR130662 UNCANNY X-FORCE #5 NOW $3.99

MAR138133 UNCANNY X-MEN #4 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR NOW $3.99

MAR130669 VENOM #35 $2.99

MAR130703 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #30 $3.99

FEB130492 X-MEN #1 NOW $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR130405 DANGER GIRL TRINITY #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JAN130462 DEFINITIVE FLASH GORDON & JUNGLE JIM HC VOL 03 $75.00

MAR130397 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130387 GI JOE #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130385 GI JOE FIELD MANUAL SC VOL 02 $19.99

FEB130314 GODZILLA ONGOING #12 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JUL120372 JERICHO SEASON 4 #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130407 JINNRISE #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130402 KILL SHAKESPEARE TIDE OF BLOOD #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR138139 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #2 4TH PTG $3.99

MAR130364 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #4 FLUTTERSHY [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130363 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #10 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130362 STAR TREK CLASSICS TP VOL 04 BEGINNINGS $19.99

MAR130359 STAR TREK ONGOING #21 AFTER DARKNESS PT 1 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130333 TMNT ONGOING #22 $3.99

FEB130360 TRANSFORMERS IDW COLLECTION HC VOL 08 $49.99

MAR130373 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #17 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130375 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130414 TRUE BLOOD HC VOL 05 SHAKE FOR ME $24.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR130018 AMALAS BLADE #2 $3.50

MAR130044 ANGEL & FAITH #22 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

MAR130048 BPRD VAMPIRE #3 $3.50

MAR130023 DRAGON AGE UNTIL WE SLEEP #3 $3.99

MAR130026 KING CONAN HOUR O/T DRAGON #1 $3.50

MAR138243 LAST OF US AMERICAN DREAMS #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99

MAR130029 LAST OF US AMERICAN DREAMS #2 $3.99

JAN130115 STAR WARS OMNIBUS WILD SPACE TP VOL 01 $24.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IMAGE COMICS

FEB130439 CHEW #34 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MAR130561 CLONE #7 [DIG] $2.99

MAR130493 CLONE TP VOL 01 [DIG] $12.99

MAR138295 EAST OF WEST #2 2ND PTG $3.50

MAR130567 ELEPHANTMEN #48 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

MAR130498 ELEPHANTMEN REVISED & EXPANDED HC VOL 01 (MR) [DIG] $39.99

MAR130569 FIVE WEAPONS #4 [DIG] $3.50

MAR130575 LOST VEGAS #3 CVR A LEE [DIG] $3.50

MAR130576 LOST VEGAS #3 CVR B FLEECS $3.50

JAN130600 MIND THE GAP #10 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99

JAN130601 MIND THE GAP #10 CVR B OBACK $2.99

MAR130473 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR A EISMA (MR) [DIG] $3.99

MAR138122 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR B FRISON (MR) $3.99

MAR138123 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR C GUILLORY (MR) $3.99

MAR138124 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR D MARTINBROUGH (MR) $3.99

MAR138125 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR E MCKELVIE (MR) $3.99

MAR138126 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR F PITARRA (MR) $3.99

MAR138127 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR G RIOS (MR) $3.99

MAR138128 MORNING GLORIES #27 CVR H WARD (MR) $3.99

MAR130478 THIEF OF THIEVES #14 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

FEB131623 TMP MLB SERIES 31 AF (RES) PI

FEB131627 TMP MLB SERIES 31 BRYCE HARPER AF PI

FEB131628 TMP MLB SERIES 31 CLAYTON KERSHAW AF PI

FEB131624 TMP MLB SERIES 31 DEREK JETER AF (RES) PI

FEB131625 TMP MLB SERIES 31 STRASBURG AF (RES) PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 29 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
APR130005 PREVIEWS #297 JUNE 2013 [DIG/P+] $4.50
APR130008 PREVIEWS #297 JUNE 2013 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR130950 ADVENTURE TIME ANNUAL #1 $4.99

JAN131212 ANNOYING ORANGE GN VOL 02 ORANGE YOU GLAD $6.99

JAN131213 ANNOYING ORANGE HC VOL 02 ORANGE YOU GLAD $10.99

MAR130808 ARCHIE #644 ARCHIE MEETS GLEE PT 4 [DIG/P+] $2.99

MAR130811 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #240 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR131155 ASTRONAUT ACADEMY RE ENTRY GN $9.99

APR131376 BOYS OF STEEL THE CREATORS OF SUPERMAN YR HC $16.99

FEB130718 BREATHER GN [DIG/P+] $6.95

MAR131204 CAGE OF EDEN GN VOL 10 $10.99

NOV121173 CAT ON A HOT THIN GROOVE TP $35.00

APR130778 CAVEWOMAN UNCOVERED PINUP BOOK BUDD ROOT SP ED (MR) PI

MAR130920 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

MAR130767 COMPLEX GN VOL 01 WAYS OF LIFE (MR) $11.99

MAR130860 CROSSED BADLANDS #29 (MR) $3.99

MAR130862 CROSSED BADLANDS #29 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

MAR130861 CROSSED BADLANDS #29 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130948 DARK SHADOWS VAMPIRELLA TP $19.99

APR120830 DEAD MANS RUN #5 CVR A PARKER [DIG] $3.50

APR120831 DEAD MANS RUN #5 CVR B OUM $3.50

MAR130931 DEATHMATCH #6 MAIN COVERS [DIG] $3.99

MAR130855 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #11 CVR A CAFARO $3.99

MAR130856 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #11 CVR B OUM $3.99

MAR130913 FUTURAMA COMICS #67 $2.99

MAR131395 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #85 A CVR TYNDALL (UNLSHD PT2) (MR) $5.99

MAR131396 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #85 B CVR CAFARO (UNLSHD PT2) (MR) $5.99

FEB131213 GFT REALM KNIGHTS ONE SHOT A CVR REYES (MR) $5.99

FEB131214 GFT REALM KNIGHTS ONE SHOT B CVR TOLIBAO (MR) $5.99

FEB131215 GFT REALM KNIGHTS ONE SHOT C CVR QUALANO (MR) $5.99

MAR131407 GFT WONDERLAND #11 A CVR CUMMINGS (MR) $2.99

MAR131408 GFT WONDERLAND #11 B CVR BROOMALL (MR) $2.99

MAR131403 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99

MAR131404 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #1 B CVR HORN (MR) $2.99

MAR131405 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #1 C CVR CAFARO (MR) $2.99

MAR131406 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #1 D CVR CHA (MR) $2.99

MAR131206 GHOST IN SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX GN VOL 04 (MR) $10.99

MAR130782 GOLD DIGGER PLATINUM TP VOL 05 $14.95

DEC121115 GOOD DOG HC $16.99

MAR131034 GREEN HORNET LEGACY #37 $3.99

MAR131035 GREEN HORNET TP VOL 05 OUTCAST $19.99

APR130986 IN KITCHEN WITH ALAIN PASSARD INSIDE WORLD OF MASTER CHEF $16.95

NOV121117 JENNIFER BLOOD FIRST BLOOD #5 (MR) $3.99

APR131232 JOHN CARPENTERS ASYLUM #1 (MR) $3.99

MAR131224 JOURNALISM TP $22.00

MAR131348 LIMIT GN VOL 05 $10.95

JAN130812 LIO TP VOL 02 MAKING FRIENDS $9.99

MAR131258 MERE GN (MR) $19.95

FEB130885 MOTHER TERESA SAINT O/T SLUMS GN (RES) $11.99

APR130995 OBITUARY MAN GN (MR) $15.00

MAR131157 ODD DUCK GN $15.99

FEB130670 PIRATE EYE ONE SHOT PIRATES LIFE [DIG] $3.99

FEB130669 PRINCELESS VOL 2 #3 [DIG] $3.99

NOV121121 RED SONJA #76 $3.99

FEB131270 RESURRECTIONIST LOST WORK OF DR SPENCER BLACK HC $24.95

MAR131208 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 11 $10.99

FEB130901 SHADOW YEAR ONE #3 CVR A WAGNER $3.99

FEB130902 SHADOW YEAR ONE #3 CVR B ROSS $3.99

FEB130903 SHADOW YEAR ONE #3 CVR C SAMNEE $3.99

FEB130904 SHADOW YEAR ONE #3 CVR D CHAYKIN $3.99

MAR130912 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #7 $4.99

MAR130821 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #249 REG CVR [P+] $2.99

APR131224 SPIDERBABE DLX PACK W/ DVD (MR) $9.99

APR131223 TALES O/T BUDDHA BEFORE HE WAS ENLIGHTENED TP (MR) $14.99

MAR130974 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #80 (MR) [DIG] $2.95

MAR131187 TOMMYSAURUS REX GN VOL 01 $10.99

MAR131188 TOMMYSAURUS REX HC VOL 01 $19.99

AUG121038 WARLORD OF MARS #25 (MR) $3.99

MAR130772 WESTWOOD WITCHES #1 (MR) $3.99

FEB130949 WITCHBLADE DEMON REBORN TP $16.99

MAGAZINES
MAR131442 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1354 PI
FEB138541 MARVEL SUPER HEROES #9 $4.99

BOOKS
FEB131271 ANGRY BIRDS HATCHING A UNIVERSE HC $50.00

FEB131256 DOCTOR WHO DALEK COLLECTIBLE FIGURINE & BOOK KIT $9.95

FEB131257 DOCTOR WHO LIGHT UP TARDIS & BOOK KIT $9.95

FEB130762 J T KRUL LOST SPARK NOVEL (RES) $9.99

OCT121242 JEFFREY JONES DEFINITIVE REFERENCE HC $39.95

NOV121346 JEFFREY JONES DEFINITIVE REFERENCE SC (MR) $24.95

MAR131449 SUPERMAN HIGH FLYING HISTORY SC $17.00

APR131416 TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL #3 TEACHERS PEST $13.99

FEB131904 WARHAMMER ELVES SC $17.50

FEB131906 WARHAMMER GILEADS CURSE SC $14.00

Monday, May 27, 2013

Review: KING CONAN: The Hour of the Dragon #1

KING CONAN: THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON #1 (#9 in the series)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

WRITER: Timothy Truman
ART: Tomás Giorello
COLORS: José Villarrubia
LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
COVER: Gerald Parel
VARIANT COVER: Sanjulián
EDITOR: Philip R. Simon
28pp, Colors, $3.50 U.S. (May 2013)

The Hour of the Dragon is the only novel featuring Conan the Cimmerian (or Barbarian) written by author Robert E. Howard, Conan’s creator. The novel originally ran as a serial in the pulp magazine, Weird Tales, from 1935 through 1936. The novel was first published in book from as Conan the Conqueror (1950, Gnome Press).

Dark Horse Comics is producing a comic book adaptation of the novel as two six-issue miniseries. The first series, King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon, will be released to comic book stores this week (as of this writing). The second miniseries will be titled King Conan: The Conqueror.

King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon is written by Timothy Truman and drawn by Tomás Giorello, already acclaimed for the Conan comics they have produced over the last several years. They are joined by their stellar collaborators, José Villarrubia on colors and Richard Starkings & Comicraft on letters.

King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon #1 opens in Tarantia, capital city of the kingdom of Aquilonia. King Conan is visiting the burial chambers of his late Queen, Zenobia. It is there that a young scribe, Pramis, meets the king and begins recording the tale King Conan tells him – the story of how he met Zenobia.

The story begins in remote Nemedia, on the eve of the Year of the Dragon. In another crypt, a group of malcontents and conspirators, seeking help to capture the thrones of kingdoms they covet, summon a wizard dead for three thousand. Now, King Conan must face a traitorous alliance backed by the resurrected sorcerer, Xaltotun.

I was ecstatic upon hearing that Dark Horse Comics was going to adapt into comics, Robert E. Howard’s sword-and-sorcery novel, The Hour of the Dragon, one of my all-time favorite books. I think that the novel has only been turned into comics once before, in the early to mid-1970s by Marvel Comics.

I am happy with the resulting first issue of King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon. Tim Truman seems to have absorbed the essence of the novel, while relocating the best of Howard’s prose into comics. The novel does have some rough patches, in which the story meanders, so I wonder if this will show over the course of a 12-issue adaptation.

Personally, I’m ready to put Tomás Giorello’s name next to the great Conan comic book artists, Barry Windsor-Smith and John Buscema. Giorello’s art has the pen and ink texture of book illustration and a graphic style that captures the bizarre sensibilities of pulp fantasy tales. José Villarrubia’s colors complete the illusion that the art belongs to a bygone pre-World War II era of fantastic fiction. However, there is no mistaking King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon for a pastiche. This is real-deal Conan.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Saturday, May 25, 2013

Book Review: THE BARBED CROWN

THE BARBED CROWN
HARPERCOLLINS – @HarperCollins

AUTHOR: William Dietrich
ISBN: 978-0-06-219407-7; hardcover (May 7, 2013)
368pp, B&W, $26.99 U.S.

William Dietrich is a novelist and non-fiction author. Before he was a novelist, Dietrich was a journalist. In 1990, along with reporters Ross Anderson, Mary Ann Gwinn, and Eric Nalder, Dietrich won the “Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting” at The Seattle Times “for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and its aftermath.” As an author, Dietrich is known for a series of novels, “the Ethan Gage Adventures,” which began with Napoleon's Pyramids (2007).

Dietrich’s latest is The Barbed Crown, a recently released adventure novel. The Barbed Crown is “An Ethan Gage Adventure,” the sixth novel in the series that stars spy, adventurer, and treasure hunter, Ethan Gage, and is set during the Napoleonic wars.

Gage had fought beside Napoleon Bonaparte in Egypt and was Bonaparte’s agent in Italy. Now, Gage blames the ruler of France for the death of his wife, Astiza. Leaving his only son, four-year-old Horus (Harry), in England, Gage heads to France to join a royalist conspiracy trying to unseat Napoleon and restore the Bourbon monarchy to power.

Gage’s adventure includes a motley cast of characters. There is Comtesse Catherine Marceau, a royalist sympathizer, and the smuggler Tom Johnstone, who helps Gage and Marceau get to France. He meets inventors and technology pioneers, Robert Fulton and Sir William Congreave. And, of course, there is Napoleon Bonaparte himself. As Great Britain and France prepare for war, Gage finds himself caught between two empires, both determined to use him as a pawn, but he really just wants to save his life and his family.

In the “Historical Notes” at the back of The Barbed Crown, William Dietrich writes that “History is life: complex, confusing, and inclusive,” but he doesn’t let that stop him from turning history into a great romantic adventure in the vein of 19th century novels. In the same paragraph, Dietrich also writes of history, “Problems drag, personalities linger, careers meander, and love sometimes goes unconsummated.” Of course, a skilled writer can turn that into juicy storytelling, which Dietrich does.

Ethan Gage is an attractive character, not because he is so smart and resourceful; so many characters in fiction are too smart, perfect, and live mostly trouble-free lives. Gage is never trouble-free. If the world is a stormy sea, Gage’s life is small boat tossed about by relentless waves and choppy waters, and that’s a good thing. The sense of peril and danger and the significance of the conflict are heightened, so we come to believe of Gage that “this dude ain’t gonna make it!” His troubles made me hold onto the likeable Gage even harder.

The Barbed Crown deserves to be described as “a good read,” because it is a darn good read. It is filled with colorful characters, is set in a Paris that is both glittery and squalid, and there is always a backroom, corner, or hideaway where people are hatching conspiracies. The epic confrontation on the high seas that dominates the last act is like a second novel added onto the adventures in Paris. With its surprising ending, The Barbed Crown will have you anticipating the seventh entry in the Ethan Gage series.

B+

www.williamdietrich.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Friday, May 24, 2013

Review: STAR WARS: Legacy Volume 2 #3

STAR WARS: LEGACY VOLUME 2 #3
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

SCRIPT: Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
ART: Gabriel Hardman
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Dave Wilkins
EDITOR: Randy Stradley
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (May 2013)

Prisoner of the Floating World Part Three

Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is a new Star Wars comic book series from Dark Horse Comics and writer Corrina Bechko and writer-artist Gabriel Hardman. The events depicted in this Star Wars comic book take place “approximately 138 years after the events in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”

Legacy Volume 2 focuses on the character, Ania Solo, the great-great granddaughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo. Young Miss Solo, the owner of a junkyard, is on the run after inadvertently stumbling onto a conspiracy involving the Carreras System. It begins when she finds a lost lightsaber.

As Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 #3 opens, young Imperial Knight, Jao Assam, is deep inside the Surd Nebula, as he continues his search for Imperial Knight Yalta Val. Elsewhere, in the Carreras System, Ania and her friend, Sauk (a refugee from Mon Calamari), and the assassin droid, AG-37, are aboard the droid’s ship, trying to escape pursuing snub fighters.

Meanwhile, the Sith continue to manipulate the construction of a communications array in the Surd Nebula. Perhaps, Jao Assam and Solo and company need to find common ground… or space.

Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda’s new eponymous Star Wars comic book series recalls both the original Star Wars films and Marvel Comics’ Star Wars comic book series (1970s-80s). It is about re-imagining classic Star Wars. The second new Star Wars comic book series, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin, is fun just because it puts Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine in mortal danger.

Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is as “real Star Wars” as a Star Wars comic book can get, as far as I’m concerned. Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 artists, penciller-inker Gabriel Hardman and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, are doing their best impersonation of Al Williamson, a quintessential Star Wars comic book and comic strip artist, without it being a mere copy or pastiche. So, when I read this well-written series, I look at Hardman and Rosenberg’s art and think that I’m seeing Star Wars personally guided by George Lucas and Al Williamson, even if Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 really isn’t.

Anyone who reads Star Wars comic books must read Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Jormungand: The Final Volume

I read Jormungand, Vol. 11

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Review: AKANEIRO #1

AKANEIRO #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Justin Aclin
ART: Vasilis Lolos
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Shu Yan
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2013)

“The Path of Cloak and Wolf” Part 1 of 3

American McGee is a game designer perhaps best known as the designer of American McGee's Alice and for Spicy Horse, his Shanghai-based independent video game developer. McGee and Spicy Horse’s latest game is Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, a re-envisioning of Red Riding Hood set in the world of Japanese folklore.

Dark Horse Comics is producing a comic book adaptation of Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, entitled Akaneiro. The series is written by Justin Aclin and drawn by Vasilis Lolos.

Akaneiro #1 opens on Yomi Island, the home of the Ainu people, who were the first to settle Nippon. The island is beset by yokai, who will destroy humanity if too many enter the world. The Red Hunters of the Order of Akane hunt and kill yokai, maintaining a balance, but the Ainu and Red Hunters, at best, only tolerate each other.

Kani is a half-Ainu girl (on her late mother’s side) who lives with her father, a shabby ronin. Her lineage makes her an outcast to the Ainu, but an Ainu ceremony, the Iomante, will change Kani’s life.

I can’t tell how much Little Red Riding Hood is in Akaneiro, but the influences of feudal Japan-set fiction, as well as Japanese folklore and mythology are clear. Honestly, I did not find Akaneiro interesting at first, but once Kani begins her journey, the story takes a nice, wicked turn. At that turning point, it seems as if the Japanese folklore aspect lessens. Now, Akaneiro has a Sam Raimi-Army of Darkness vibe.

Two things to keep me coming back are, first, artist Vasilis Lolos’ peculiar, but compelling drawing style. The second thing is that the part of the story that begins in the last seven pages is just too good to be left hanging.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Cemetery Dance Announces Stephen King's "The Dark Man"

From Cemetery Dance:

Cemetery Dance Publications is pleased to announce our World's First Hardcover Edition of THE DARK MAN by Stephen King, which will be available in bookstores and libraries across America on July 30th.

The Dark Man has never seen the light of day beyond a few hardcore collectors of King's college work, but many people consider it to be a prequel to King's epic end of the world novel, THE STAND, because it stars the first appearance of Randall Flagg, one of King's greatest villains.

This is a unique addition to the King canon, an eighty-eight page poem featuring extraordinarily detailed Glenn Chadbourne artwork on every page. We've taken this breathtaking poem and worked closely with acclaimed artist Chadbourne to bring King's chilling words to life in a unique way.

There was a very specific rhythm to the poem that we wanted to convey through the blending of the text and the artwork, and Chadbourne skillfully used his illustrations to create a new kind of mixed media story.

Feedback from early readers has been fantastic, with some saying they never expected a poem to make their heart race with terror and horror the way the ending of The Dark Man does.

We hope you enjoy this experimental project and we appreciate your consideration of this title.

Title: The Dark Man
Author: Stephen King
Artist: Glenn Chadbourne
Page Count: 88
Pub. Date: July 30, 2013
Trade Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58767-421-1
Trade Hardcover Price: $25
Slipcased Trade Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58767-425-9
Slipcased Trade Hardcover Price: $49.95

You can view the covers for our various editions and read more on our website: http://www.cemeterydance.com/page/CDP/PROD/king08

Please contact me if you have any questions or need more information. Thank you!

Best wishes,
Brian Freeman
Managing Editor

Cemetery Dance Publications
132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7
Forest Hill, MD 21050

410-588-5901 [phone]
410-588-5904 [fax]

http://www.cemeterydance.com


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Review: SUNNY Volume 1

SUNNY, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Taiyo Matsumoto
TRANSLATION: Michael Arias
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
ISBN: 978-1-4215-3448-0; hardcover (May 2013); Rated “T” for Teen is recommended for ages 13 and up
224pp, B&W, $22.99 US, $26.99 CAN

Taiyo Matsumoto is a manga creator best known for his manga, Tekkonkinkreet, which was made into an animated film in 2006. VIZ Media’s English-language publication of Tekkonkinkreet won Matsumoto an Eisner Award. He also created the series the manga, GoGo Monster.

Matsumoto’s new series, Sunny, began publication in the Japanese manga magazines, IKKI, in February 2011. Sunny is set at Star Kids Home, an orphanage. There, a car called “Sunny” is a place where the children find solace.

Sunny, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) introduces readers to Star Kids Home, a home for orphans and foster children. Another resident of this Japanese orphanage is the Sunny 1200, a dilapidated old Nissan car that sits abandoned in the orphanage’s garden. The children call the old car “Sunny,” and it is off-limits to adults. Sunny is something of a clubhouse for the kids, because it is the place where they can escape their everyday lives, daydream, think, hangout, and talk.

I’ll start my review with this recollection. Many years ago, I read a review/essay about the late comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes, in which the review’s author praised cartoonist Bill Watterson for creating a “real kid” in Calvin. The author did his praising of the strip by criticizing “the Cosby kids” of The Cosby Show (1984 to 1992), the long-running NBC situation comedy starring Bill Cosby.

The author of the review/essay said (not exact words) that the Cosby kids weren’t real because of the way they acted. Back then, I figured the author did not know many upper-middle class African-American families – if he knew any at all. Maybe, if Theo Huxtable busted a cap in an ass or impregnated his fine-ass sister, Denise, then, the Cosby kids would have seemed more “real” to the review/essay author.

I don’t how many people will see the fictional children that Taiyo Matsumoto created for Sunny as real. At least at this point in the series, he hasn’t given each character a grocery list of quirks, motivations, and conflicts to prove to people that he can create “well-developed” or real characters.

Matsumoto simply makes the children seem authentic by their actions. The children of Star Kids Home (a great name, by the way) are seekers of knowledge, explorers of the ways of the world, and investigators of what drives people to do what they do. Sunny is poignant, but it is not really about a happy/sad or good/bad dynamic. Instead, Matsumoto has created manga with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the way the world is.

So are the children in Sunny real or real-like? I don’t know, but I do know that Sunny is the real deal in great comics.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

DC COMICS

MAR130246 ALL STAR WESTERN #20 $3.99

MAR130177 AQUAMAN #20 $2.99

MAR130256 ARROW #7 $3.99

MAR130258 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #16 $3.99

MAR130196 BATMAN INCORPORATED #11 $2.99

MAR130199 BATMAN INCORPORATED #11 COMBO PACK $3.99

MAR130287 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #2 $2.99

MAR130207 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #20 $2.99

FEB130208 DEMON KNIGHTS TP VOL 02 THE AVALON TRAP (N52) $14.99

MAR130179 FLASH #20 $2.99

MAR130183 FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #20 $2.99

MAR130224 GREEN LANTERN #20 (WRATH) (NOTE PRICE) $7.99

MAR130226 GREEN LANTERN #20 COMBO PACK (WRATH) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

MAR130229 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #20 (WRATH) $2.99

MAR130159 GREEN TEAM #1 $2.99

FEB130209 GRIFTER TP VOL 02 NEW FOUND POWER (N52) $16.99

MAR130173 JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 $3.99

MAR130176 JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 COMBO PACK $4.99

MAR130237 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #20 $2.99

MAR130231 RED LANTERNS #20 (WRATH) $2.99

MAR130184 SAVAGE HAWKMAN #20 $2.99

MAR130192 SUPERMAN #20 $2.99

MAR130205 TALON #8 $2.99

MAR130248 TEEN TITANS #20 $2.99

MAR130306 UNWRITTEN #49 (MR) $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

MARVEL COMICS

MAR130635 A PLUS X #8 NOW $3.99

FEB130628 A PLUS X TP VOL 01 EQUALS AWESOME $17.99

FEB138600 AGE OF ULTRON #4 2ND PTG HITCH VAR $3.99

FEB138601 ALL NEW X-MEN #10 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

FEB138444 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 4TH PTG STEGMAN VAR $7.99

MAR130612 AVENGERS #12 NOW $3.99

FEB130650 CABLE AND X-FORCE CLASSIC TP VOL 01 $34.99

MAR130689 DAREDEVIL #26 $3.99

MAR130644 DEADPOOL #10 NOW2 $2.99

MAR130655 FANTASTIC FOUR #8 NOW2 $2.99

MAR130606 FEARLESS DEFENDERS #4AU NOW $3.99

FEB130635 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 04 $19.99

MAR130676 IRON MAN #258.3 $3.99

FEB130626 JIM FEATURING SIF TP VOL 01 STRONGER THAN MONSTERS NOW $15.99

MAR130656 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #652 NOW $2.99

MAR130700 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #14 $2.99

FEB130619 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 09 $24.99

MAR130711 POWERS BUREAU #4 (MR) $3.95

MAR130667 SCARLET SPIDER #17 $2.99

FEB130632 SECRET AVENGERS BY RICK REMENDER TP VOL 02 AVX $24.99

MAR130617 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #10 NOW $3.99

MAR130681 ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #4 $3.99

MAR130608 UNCANNY AVENGERS #8AU NOW2 $3.99

MAR130638 UNCANNY X-MEN #6 NOW $3.99

FEB130639 UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 04 AVX $19.99

FEB130615 WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS TP COMPLETE SERIES $29.99

MAR130642 X-MEN LEGACY #11 NOW2 $2.99

MAR130629 YOUNG AVENGERS #5 NOW $2.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR130424 BORDERLANDS ORIGINS TP [DIG] $17.99

MAR130430 CHASING THE DEAD TP $17.99

MAR130396 DOCTOR WHO VOL 3 #9 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130349 GHOSTBUSTERS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130391 GI JOE COBRA FILES #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130384 GI JOE COMPLETE COBRA COMMAND TP $34.99

FEB130290 GI JOE COMPLETE COLL HC VOL 02 $49.99

FEB130316 GODZILLA HALF CENTURY WAR TP $19.99

MAR130351 HALF PAST DANGER #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130342 JUDGE DREDD #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130416 KISS SOLO #3 THE CELESTIAL [DIG] $3.99

FEB130274 STAR TREK JOHN BYRNE COLLECTION HC $49.99

MAR130329 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #2 BAXTER STOCKMAN $3.99

FEB130338 TMNT WORKS HC VOL 01 $49.99

MAR130425 TORPEDO TP VOL 03 [DIG] $17.99

MAR130371 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #17 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130413 TRUE BLOOD ONGOING #13 [DIG/P+] $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR130028 AKANEIRO #1 $3.99

MAR130012 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #24 (MR) $7.99

MAR130013 DEEP SEA ONE SHOT $2.99

MAR130051 HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES #2 ALEXANDER CVR $3.99

MAR130050 LOBSTER JOHNSON SATAN SMELLS A RAT ONE SHOT $3.50

MAR130016 MASSIVE #12 $3.50

MAR130017 MIND MGMT #11 $3.99

MAR130068 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI PRISONER OF BOGAN #5 (RES) $2.99

MAR130058 STAR WARS LEGACY #3 $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IMAGE COMICS

DEC120546 ACTIVITY #13 [DIG] $3.50

MAR130487 ARTIFACTS TP VOL 05 [DIG] $16.99

MAR130444 BOUNCE #1 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MAR130564 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS #3 (MR) [DIG] $4.99

MAR130568 FIVE GHOSTS HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY #3 [DIG] $2.99

MAR138196 INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #1 2ND PTG $2.99

MAR130584 MINIATURE JESUS #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

FEB130457 NOWHERE MEN #5 [DIG] $2.99

MAR130587 REVIVAL #10 [DIG] $2.99

MAR130589 SEX #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 22 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN130838 A NINJA NAMED STAN SC [DIG/P+] $14.95

MAR130908 ACCELERATORS #1 $3.99

MAR130943 ADVENTURE TIME #16 MAIN CVRS $3.99

MAR130953 ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #5 MAIN CVR $3.99

MAR130979 ANTARES TP VOL 01 EPISODE 1 $15.95

SEP121209 ANTI #4 $3.99

MAR130813 ARCHIES 1000 PG COMICS DIGEST TP $14.99

JAN131206 AVENGER ROARING HEART NOVEL HC LTD $32.95

JAN131205 AVENGER ROARING HEART NOVEL SC $18.95

MAR130910 BART SIMPSON COMICS #83 $2.99

MAR130980 BETELGEUSE TP VOL 02 CAVES $11.95

FEB130719 BLACK LIST GN [DIG/P+] $14.95

MAR130981 BLAKE & MORTIMER GN VOL 12 ATLANTIS MYSTERY $15.95

MAR131280 BOOYAH GN $7.99

MAR130773 CAVEWOMAN UNCOVERED PINUP BOOK (MR) $3.99

FEB130777 CROSSED BADLANDS #28 (MR) $3.99

FEB130779 CROSSED BADLANDS #28 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130778 CROSSED BADLANDS #28 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JAN131060 DAMSELS #7 $3.99

MAR131086 DARK SHADOWS YEAR ONE #2 $3.99

JAN131132 DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 STAN LEE SGN ED $700.00

FEB130995 DF MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #1 SIX COPY SET $100.00

FEB130994 DF MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #6 EXC CVR $10.00

FEB130992 DF MY LITTLE PONY MICRO #3 EXC CVR $10.00

MAR131122 DF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #21 EXC CVR $10.00

FEB131136 DMC DEVIL MAY CRY VERGIL CHRONICLES #1 $3.99

JAN130802 DOUBLE JUMPERS #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

AUG121030 FLASH GORDON TP VOL 01 ZEITGEIST $29.99

MAR131399 GFT HUNTERS SHADOWLANDS #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99

MAR131400 GFT HUNTERS SHADOWLANDS #1 B CVR SIQUEIRA (MR) $2.99

MAR131397 GFT WEREWOLVES HUNGER #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $3.99

MAR131398 GFT WEREWOLVES HUNGER #1 B CVR KROME (MR) $3.99

FEB130688 GOLD DIGGER #200 SERIES SPECIAL [DIG] $3.99

MAR130923 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #4 MAIN CVRS (MR) [DIG] $3.99

MAR130840 JIRNI #2 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99

MAR130839 JIRNI #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99

JAN130837 KONI KONFIDENTIAL GN $9.95

MAR130982 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 29 GRAND DUKE $11.95

MAR130983 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 30 DALTONS ESCAPE $11.95

MAR131049 MASKS #7 $3.99

MAR130992 MY DIRTY DUMB EYES GN (MR) $22.95

FEB130692 NAZI ZOMBIES TP $14.95

MAR131239 NINJAGO GN VOL 07 STONE COLD $6.99

MAR131240 NINJAGO HC VOL 07 STONE COLD $10.99

MAR130907 OCCUPY COMICS #1 $3.50

MAR131199 PATRICIA BRIGGS CRY WOLF GN VOL 02 $24.95

NOV121206 PHANTOM COMP SERIES HC CHARLTON YEARS VOL 02 $49.99

FEB130982 PROPERTY HC (MR) $24.95

JAN131207 RED MENACE NOVEL SC $6.99

OCT121022 RED SONJA #75 GEOVANI CVR $3.99

OCT121021 RED SONJA #75 JONES CVR $3.99

OCT121020 RED SONJA #75 RUBI CVR $3.99

FEB130829 REGULAR SHOW #1 COMPLETE CVR BOX SET $24.99

MAR131202 ROCKY & HUDSON GAY COWBOYS $19.95

FEB130731 SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH MAGIC WITHIN TP VOL 02 $10.99

FEB131174 SATURN APARTMENTS TP VOL 07 $12.99

FEB130883 SCHOOL BITES INDEPENDENT STUDIES COLL TP [DIG] $19.99

JAN131224 SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 03 $24.99

MAR131253 SIXTH GUN #31 $3.99

FEB131138 SOLID STATE TANK GIRL #1 $3.99

MAR130827 SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 05 TAILS ADVENTURE $11.99

MAR131193 SPACE HUSTLERS GN $9.95

MAR130786 STEAMPUNK SNOW WHITE ONE SHOT [DIG] $5.99

FEB130867 STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #8 [DIG] $3.99

MAR131353 SUNNY HC VOL 01 $22.99

MAR130984 THORGAL GN VOL 07 MASTER OF MOUNTAINS $11.95

MAR131062 VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 07 (MR) $49.99

JAN130819 VICTORIAN SECRET COLLECTION TP [DIG] $14.95

OCT121247 WALLY WOOD EERIE TALES OF CRIME & HORROR DLX SLIPCASED $69.95

OCT121246 WALLY WOOD EERIE TALES OF CRIME & HORROR HC $39.95

NOV121348 WALLY WOOD EERIE TALES OF CRIME & HORROR SC $24.95

FEB131091 WASTELAND #45 (MR) $3.99

MAR130817 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #29 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR131249 XENOGLYPHS #2 $3.99

MAR130770 ZOMBIES CALLING GN $9.95

FEB130720 ZOO DOT COM GN [DIG/P+] $9.95

MAGAZINES
MAR130698 CARS MAGAZINE #14 $4.99

FEB131241 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #18 $17.99

MAR131441 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1353 PI

JAN131430 HOBBY JAPAN APR 2013 $16.60

MAR131500 LOCUS #628 $7.50

MAR131435 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 24 #3 $5.99

BOOKS
AUG121384 ALLURING ART OF MARGARET BRUNDAGE DLX SLIPCASED ED $69.95

AUG121385 ALLURING ART OF MARGARET BRUNDAGE HC $39.95

SEP121230 ALLURING ART OF MARGARET BRUNDAGE SC $24.95

MAR131426 DRAWN TO NEW YORK ILLUS CHRON OF 3 DECADES IN NYC $29.95

MAR131480 HORROR SHOW GUIDE ULT FRIGHTFEST OF MOVIES 2ND ED $19.95

FEB131250 IVAN BRUNETTI AESTHETICS MEMOIR HC $25.00

OCT121243 JEFFREY JONES DEFINITIVE REFERENCE DLX SLIPCASED ED $69.95

APR131204 KRAMERS ERGOT HC VOL 08 (OCT111193) (MR) $32.95

MAR131448 LONE RANGER GOLDEN BOOK CLASSIC $3.99

MAR131496 NEIL GAIMAN MAKE GOOD ART HC $12.99

FEB131190 NOBLE V GREYLANCER NOVEL $14.99

FEB131261 TERRY NATION MAN WHO INVENTED DALEKS SC $14.95

FEB131280 WORLD WAR Z MOVIE TIE IN ED TP $14.95

Monday, May 20, 2013

Review: SILVER #1 – Finnigan

SILVER #1 – FINNIGAN
DARK PLANET COMICS

CARTOONIST/CREATOR: Stephan Franck – @stephan_franck
32pp, B&W, $3.50 U.S.

Stephan Franck has been a writer, director, and animator. The veteran filmmaker has worked for Disney, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., among others. He was a supervising animator on The Iron Giant, contributed story to Despicable Me, and recently directed the upcoming movie, The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow for Sony Pictures Animation.

Now, Stephan Franck is creating comics and recently released Silver, a new 12-issue miniseries published by Dark Planet Comics. Silver extends the fictional world of writer Bram Stoker, the author of the Gothic novel, Dracula (1897), into the 1930s. Silver focuses on a con man who steals silver from the living-dead. He begins to assemble a crew to help him pull off the biggest heist of the last ten centuries.

Silver #1 opens in New York City, 1931. The Harker Foundation, founded by recently deceased Jonathan Harker and his late wife, Wilhelmina “Mina” (Murray) Harker, is holding an auction of rare silver pieces from the Harkers’ private collection. Tonight, there is an unwanted guest, con man and thief extraordinaire, James Finnigan. Finnigan’s “visit” is expected, however, which turns into a chase that covers practically every corner of the building.

Like Francesco Francavilla’s The Black Beetle, Silver is a stylish urban-set comic book that is part Film-Noir and part Depression-era pulp fiction. James Finnigan is not quite in the classic heroic tradition of the pulps. He’s more like Indiana Jones, a hero styled in the pulp tradition: two-fisted, smart, wily, and a lucky bastard who always escapes in the nick of time.

Graphically, Silver is a classic black and white comic book, in which the artist uses positive and negative space to not only set tone and mood, but to also pace the narrative. When done with skill, a black and white comic book can create a sense of swiftly-moving action. Black and white comic book art can also present static images that convey danger, menace, and suspense with but a lone image or in a single panel. Franck does that throughout Silver #1.

In James Finnigan, Franck has created a character that will keep the series lively and funny, making Silver an adventure tale that mixes in other genres such as action, horror, and crime fiction. Silver is a gorgeous comic book that gets more entertaining with each page. Silver is the kind of comic book that has kept me in love with comic books since I was child.

Readers looking for classic pop comics will want Stephan Franck’s Silver.

A

Readers can purchase Silver #1 on ComiXology: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

www.darkplanetcomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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



Saturday, May 18, 2013

Yaoi Review: BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE Volume 4

BOND OF DREAMS, BOND OF LOVE, VOL. 4
SUBLIME – @SuBLimeManga (Asuka Comics CL DX)

CARTOONIST: Yaya Sakuragi
TRANSLATION: Satsuki Yamashita
LETTERING: Annaliese Christman
COVER: Yaya Sakuragi with JAY
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5235-4; paperback (May 2013); Rated “M” for “Mature”
186pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Yaya Sakuragi is a creator of yaoi manga and has produced such series as Hey, Sensei? and Tea for Two. Yaoi manga is a subset of boys’ love manga (BL) and features depictions of explicit sex between male characters.

One of Sakuragi’s recent yaoi manga series is Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, which SuBLime Manga is publishing in a four-volume graphic novel series. The series focuses on Ao, a high school student who falls in love with Ryomei, whom Ao has known since he was a child. Ryomei, who is several years older than Ao, ignores the younger man’s advances.

As Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, Vol. 4 (Acts 14 to 18) opens, Ryomei and Ao finally become intimate. Ao should be happy, but he starts to believe that their first time was merely pity sex. Ao has also been living with his Grandma Teruko, but now, she finally insists that Ao move in with his estranged mother. Moving also means being farther away from Ryomei. What can Ao do? Can he accept Ryomei’s newfound affection as real? Can Ryomei help Ao and finally express his love for him? The drama of not-so-unrequited love must finally reach a conclusion – happy or sad.

The Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love manga is the epitome of the seme (guy on top)-uke (guy on bottom) dynamic in yaoi manga. Ryomei is tall, dark, and handsome, and when he wears his priestly vestments (as he is a shrine priest), he looks like a dashing samurai. With his small frame, tousled hair, and large, expressive eyes, Ao is the quintessential, smitten, BL girlish teen boy – ready to stand by and to love his man.

Jokes aside, Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love Volume 4 is deeply romantic. I have not read the prior three volumes, and had not heard of the series until my SuBLime media rep sent me a copy of Vol. 4. I’m glad I read this. It is the comfort food version of yaoi manga reading material; the depictions of sex are more about lovemaking and being sweet than being raunchy, erotic, or even funny. There are two lovey-dovey side stories to spike your blood sugar even higher, but this volume is a good way to end a series.

Readers looking for sugary yaoi manga from the dessert cart will want Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

www.SuBLimeManga.com


Friday, May 17, 2013

I Reads You Review: THE ROCKETEER: Hollywood Horror #4

THE ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #4
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

WRITER: Roger Langridge
ARTIST: J Bone
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVERS: Walter Simonson with Jordie Bellaire – regular cover; Walter Simonson – Cover RI; and James White – Strange Adventures Retailer Exclusive Cover
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2013)

The Rocketeer created by Dave Stevens

The Rocketeer vs. Hollywood Horror, Chapter 4 “A Night at the Altar”

I’m only a little more than a week late, but I did it. I finally got around to reading the fourth and final issue of the latest Rocketeer comic book miniseries, The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror. This four-issue miniseries is written by cartoonist Roger Langridge and drawn by artist J Bone.

Created by the late artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens, The Rocketeer is stunt pilot, Cliff Secord. Secord finds a mysterious rocket backpack or jet-pack (the Cirrus X-3) that allows him to fly. Donning the jet-pack and a metal helmet, Secord becomes the adventurer and masked crime-fighter, The Rocketeer. His adventures begin in 1938 and continue into the 1940s (as of this writing), with most of his activities occurring in and around Los Angeles.

Hollywood Horror opens in the year 1939. Cliff’s girlfriend, Betty, is searching for her missing roommate, Dahlia Danvers, a newspaper reporter. Cliff is in trouble with the actual inventor of the jet-pack (Howard Hughes?), who has sent henchmen to retrieve it. Cliff’s friend, partner, and ace airplane mechanic, Peevy, learns that an old WWI acquaintance, scientist August “Augie” Lowcroft, is missing. Everything centers on impresario and mystic, Reverend Otto Rune and his Church of Cosmicism.

As The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #4 opens, Cliff as The Rocketeer arrives at the Octopus Club to rescue her from Otto Rune’s clutches. He finds Lowcroft and a monster right out of nightmares ready to stop him. And even if Cliff rescues Betty, can he repair their strained relationship? He gets by with a little help from his friends.

The fourth issue of Hollywood Horror is the best issue of the series. The previous series, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, was like a big-budget B-movie with its sci-fi and monster (in this case, dinosaurs) elements; it was also dark in tone. Hollywood Horror is lighter in tone, talky, and resembles a screwball comedy, with the sci-fi elements being negligible, even the monster. In fact, this series is more about Hollywood than horror, with it cameos by and allusions to Hollywood legends of bygone eras.

The final issue is fun and fast-paced. The resolutions and romantic make-ups, reunions, and reconciliations give The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #4 a “Hollywood ending.” Can we imagine The Rocketeer giving us anything but a happy ending?

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Naruto: Uchiha Brothers United Front

I read Naruto, Vol. 61: Uchiha Brothers United Front

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Review: STAR WARS: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #2

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE NINTH ASSASSIN #2
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

["Star Wars Review" review page is here.]

SCRIPT: Tim Siedell – @badbanana
PENCILS: Stephen Thompson
INKS: Mark Irwin
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Ariel Olivetti
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (May 2013)

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin is a new Star Wars comic book series from writer Tim Siedell and artists Stephen Thompson and Mark Irwin. The series is set at the end of the Star Wars time period known as “The Rise of the Empire” era (the 1000-year period before the decisive Battle of Yavin in the original Star Wars film. Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin takes place some months after the events depicted in the film, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin centers on a plot by a wealthy industrialist to kill Emperor Palpatine’s mysterious apprentice, Darth Vader, who killed the industrialist’s son. After eight assassins failed, the vengeful father hires a ninth assassin, who is mysterious and powerful.

As Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #2 begins, the Heinsnake suddenly strikes. The Empire faces a wave a terrorist attacks. And an eons-dead, dark, ancient cult may be making its return.

In my review of Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #1, I wrote that if the second and third issues and so on are good, they will continue to give us the awesome read that the first issue promises. One down: Damn, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #2 is a good comic book. I could have read another 100 pages of this in one sitting.

Writer Tim Siedell has crafted a story in which, the Emperor, Vader, and the Empire are actually, seriously menaced by a credible, but largely unknown enemy… or enemies. Artist Stephen Thompson graphically conveys Siedell’s story as an epic in big panels that capture the grandeur of power, the scale of Imperial infrastructure, but, most of all, the vastness of the galaxy and how that enormity can hide entities capable of destroying even a Galactic Empire. This is a Star Wars must-read comic book.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Psyren: Alien Sky

I read Psyren, Vol. 10: Alien Sky

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Review: DREAM THIEF #1

DREAM THIEF #1 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Jai Nitz
ART/LETTERS: Greg Smallwood
COVER: Alex Ross
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2013)

Jai Nitz won the 2004 Bram Stoker Award for “Best Illustrated Narrative.” Dream Thief is a new five-issue limited series written by Nitz and drawn by Greg Smallwood. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the series focuses on a man whose body and mind become possessed after he dons a strange mask.

Dream Thief #1 introduces John Lincoln, an Atlanta-based lay-about, cad, and pot-smoker/connoisseur. John tends to get drunk and wake up in strange places; often those places are the bedrooms of women who are not his girlfriend, Claire.

John and his homeboy, Reggie Harrison (a former college football star), go on a double-date at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The two ladies are more interested in Reggie, but John is more interested in the Mumbai Kush he recently scored. The next morning, John wakes up in a strange place, wearing an Aboriginal mask he stole from the museum. Now, John’s problems have been replaced by blood stains and an unsteady memory that suggests he’s been disposing of bodies.

Honestly, when Dark Horse Comics made a PDF of Dream Thief #1 available to reviewers, I was only interested because it was a first issue. But the comic book demigods usually know what’s good for me to read. Often, it is a damn good comic book like Dream Thief #1.

Dream Thief can be described as “dark fantasy,” and “dark” means horror, because if this is not a horror comic book, it is doing one helluva impersonation. Dream Thief scares me; it makes me feel uncomfortable. Jai Nitz heightens the creepy-factor, practically with each page, and he has an engaging character in John Lincoln, lovable ass, esq.

Artist Greg Smallwood draws this as if it were a crime comic book. It’s like Eduardo Risso-100 Bullets gritty with the catchy graphic design of Francesco Francavilla. It melds to become Smallwood’s own unique visual language and graphical storytelling style. Some pages are the art of crime scene comics as eye candy. Will issue #2 be this good?

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

DC COMICS

JAN130293 AQUAMAN HC VOL 02 THE OTHERS (N52) $22.99

FEB130206 AQUAMAN TP VOL 01 THE TRENCH (N52) $14.99

JAN130305 AUTHORITY HC VOL 01 $29.99

MAR130214 BATGIRL #20 $2.99

FEB130221 BATMAN BEYOND 10000 CLOWNS TP $16.99

MAR130216 BATWOMAN #20 $2.99

MAR130215 BIRDS OF PREY #20 $2.99

MAR130218 CATWOMAN #20 $2.99

MAR130300 FABLES #129 (MR) $2.99

MAR130288 GREEN LANTERN THE ANIMATED SERIES #13 $2.99

MAR130292 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2 $2.99

MAR130260 JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #6 $2.99

FEB130222 JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND KONSTRICTION TP $16.99

MAR130171 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #4 $2.99

MAR130250 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #20 $2.99

MAR130220 NIGHTWING #20 $2.99

MAR130222 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #20 $2.99

MAR130195 SUPERGIRL #20 $2.99

MAR130236 SWORD OF SORCERY #8 $3.99

MAR130181 WONDER WOMAN #20 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB130260 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY MIKE ALLRED $79.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

MARVEL COMICS

FEB138542 AGE OF ULTRON #3 2ND PTG HITCH VAR $3.99

MAR130603 AGE OF ULTRON #8 $3.99

MAR130684 AVENGERS ENEMY WITHIN #1 $2.99

MAR130665 CABLE AND X-FORCE #8 NOW2 $3.99

FEB130629 CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 DOWN $14.99

FEB138543 DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #3 2ND PTG DEL MUNDO VAR $2.99

MAR130653 FF #7 NOW $2.99

MAR130704 GAMBIT #12 $2.99

FEB130636 INCREDIBLE HULK TP CROSSROADS $39.99

FEB130623 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK PREM HC VOL 01 AGENT OF SHIELD NOW $24.99

MAR130627 IRON MAN #10 NOW2 $3.99

DEC120727 MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 08 $69.99

FEB130631 NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 04 AVX $24.99

DEC120725 NEW WARRIORS OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 YOUNG CVR $99.99

MAR130618 NOVA #4 NOW $3.99

FEB138598 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1 4TH PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99

FEB138599 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #3 3RD PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99

MAR130660 THUNDERBOLTS #9 NOW2 $2.99

MAR130683 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #23 $3.99

MAR130702 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #29 $3.99

FEB130614 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 04 AVX $16.99

MAR130710 WOLVERINE MAX #7 (MR) $3.99

FEB130613 WOLVERINE OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE GN TP $19.99

MAR130707 X-FACTOR #256 $2.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB130378 CRAWL TO ME DLX LTD BLACK LABEL ED PI

MAR130399 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME TP VOL 01 [DIG] $17.99

MAR130344 DOOMSDAY.1 #1 [DIG] $3.99

MAR130393 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #190 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130389 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #3 [DIG] $3.99

JAN130448 IRON SKY TP [DIG] $17.99

FEB138475 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #2 3RD PTG $3.99

MAR130367 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130366 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 01 [DIG] $17.99

FEB138535 TMNT ONGOING #20 2ND PTG $3.99

FEB138477 TRANSFORMERS FALL OF CYBERTRON #1 2ND PTG $7.99

MAR130378 TRANSFORMERS PRIME RAGE O/T DINOBOTS TP [DIG] $17.99

MAR130380 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #91 [DIG/P+] $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR130046 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #107 WASTELAND #1 $3.50

MAR130024 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #16 $3.50

JAN130116 DRAGON RESURRECTION GN $17.99

MAR130014 DREAM THIEF #1 $3.99

MAR130053 EDGAR ALLAN POES FALL O/T HOUSE OF USHER #1 $3.99

JAN130121 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 13 $49.99

JAN130105 EXILE TO BABYLON TP $14.99

MAR130070 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & NINTH ASSASSIN #2 $3.50

JAN130080 TO HELL YOU RIDE #4 $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IMAGE COMICS

MAR130450 DREAM MERCHANT #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

MAR138075 EAST OF WEST #1 3RD PTG $3.50

JAN130584 FATALE #14 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

MAR138131 FIVE GHOSTS HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY #2 2ND PTG $2.99

MAR130510 HOAX HUNTERS TP VOL 02 SECRETS AND LIES [DIG] $12.99

MAR130470 IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #10 [DIG] $2.99

FEB130451 LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #5 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

JUL120400 LIL DEPRESSED BOY TP VOL 04 [DIG] $12.99

OCT120534 NON HUMANS #3 [DIG] $2.99

JAN130511 PETER PANZERFAUST TP VOL 02 HOOKED [DIG] $14.99

FEB138644 SEX #2 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

MAR130512 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 18 $14.99

JAN130613 THINK TANK #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

APR120562 VESCELL #8 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) [DIG] $4.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 15 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

FEB131195 07 GHOST GN VOL 04 $9.99

MAR130946 ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE & THE SCREAM QUEENS TP VOL 01 $19.99

FEB130825 ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 PLAYING FIRE $11.99

FEB130722 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #27 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR131009 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 (MR) $3.99

FEB130887 BETELGEUSE TP VOL 01 EXPEDITION & SURVIVORS $19.95

FEB131048 BIG NATE GENIUS MODE TP $9.99

JAN131077 BIONIC MAN #20 $3.99

MAR131106 BIONIC MAN VS BIONIC WOMAN #5 $3.99

FEB130888 BLAKE & MORTIMER GN VOL 11 GONDWANA SHRINE $15.95

MAR131322 BLOODSHOT (VU) #11 HARBINGER WARS REG ANDRASOFSZKY $3.99

DEC121057 BLOODTRAIL TP (MR) $7.99

MAR130858 CROSSED WISH YOU WERE HERE HC VOL 02 (MR) $27.99

MAR130857 CROSSED WISH YOU WERE HERE TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99

FEB130999 DF DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN #3 EXC RISQUE CVR $19.99

JAN131139 DF GI-JOE #1 VAN LENTE SGN ED PI

MAR131123 DF TMNT VILLAIN MICRO SERIES #1 EXC CVR PI

MAR131314 DISGAEA 3 SCHOOL OF DEVILS GN VOL 01 $13.95

JAN130936 DOCTOR MUSCLES GN JOURNAL 01 (MR) $14.95

FEB130699 DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #2 CVR A ROBERTSON ORANGE (MR) $2.99

FEB130700 DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #2 CVR B MONTOS (MR) $2.99

MAR130927 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #14 [DIG] $3.99

JAN130982 GARFIELD TP VOL 02 $13.99

FEB131224 GFT FLY THE FALL TP $15.99

FEB131225 GFT GODSTORM TP $12.99

MAR131409 GFT MADNESS OF WONDERLAND #4 A CVR LILLY (MR) $3.99

MAR131410 GFT MADNESS OF WONDERLAND #4 B CVR GIUSEPPE (MR) $3.99

MAR131401 GFT UNLEASHED VAMPIRES ETERNAL #2 A CVR SEJIC (MR) $3.99

MAR131402 GFT UNLEASHED VAMPIRES ETERNAL #2 B CVR CHEN (MR) $3.99

MAR130783 GOLD DIGGER SOURCEBOOK TP $34.95

DEC121050 GREEN HORNET #36 $3.99

MAR138208 HELHEIM #2 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99

MAR131250 HELHEIM #3 (MR) $3.99

JAN130946 HELLRAISER TP VOL 05 (MR) $14.99

FEB131192 INU YASHA VIZBIG ED GN VOL 15 $17.99

MAR131084 JENNIFER BLOOD #27 (MR) $3.99

FEB131177 JORMUNGAND GN VOL 11 (MR) $12.99

FEB130967 LORD OF THE JUNGLE #15 (MR) $3.99

FEB130889 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 27 LUCKY LUKE VS JOSS JAMON $11.95

FEB130890 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 28 DALTON COUSINS $11.95

FEB130917 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #2 $3.99

FEB130979 MASKS #1 EMERALD CITY COMICON SPIDER EXC LEE CVR $3.99

MAR130818 MEGA MAN TP VOL 05 ROCK OF AGES $11.99

FEB130697 MILES AWAY GN [DIG] $14.95

FEB131062 NEGIHO GN $10.99

FEB131194 NEON GENESIS EVANGELION 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 03 $19.99

MAR130872 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #8 (MR) $3.99

MAR130874 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #8 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

MAR130873 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #8 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130976 PATHFINDER #7 $3.99

FEB130975 PATHFINDER HC VOL 01 DARK WATERS RISING $29.99

MAR131110 PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #9 CVR A ALEX ROSS $3.99

MAR131111 PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #9 CVR B JONATHAN LAU $3.99

FEB130827 REGULAR SHOW #1 HOUGHTON PREORDER CVR $3.99

FEB130826 REGULAR SHOW #1 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

MAR130986 REMIND HC GN VOL 01 $24.95

MAR130987 REMIND HC GN VOL 02 $24.95

JAN131224 SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 03 $24.99

FEB130911 SHADOW #13 $3.99

FEB130914 SHADOW #13 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99

MAR130911 SIMPSONS COMICS #202 $2.99

MAR130826 SONIC SUPER DIGEST #3 [P+] $3.99

MAR130823 SONIC UNIVERSE #52 REG CVR [P+] $2.99

NOV120895 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #5 CVR A DEBALFO $3.99

NOV120896 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #5 CVR B MHAN $3.99

NOV120897 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #5 CVR C DEBALFO EXCLUSIVE PI

FEB130711 STRANGE ATTRACTORS HC $19.95

FEB130891 THORGAL GN VOL 06 CITY OF LOST GODS / BETWEEN EARTH & SUN $19.95

FEB130892 VALERIAN GN VOL 02 EMPIRE OF THOUSAND PLANETS $11.95

NOV121129 VOLTRON #12 $3.99

OCT121086 WANDERING SON HC VOL 04 $19.99

FEB130681 WHISTLES GN VOL 01 THE STARLIGHT CALLIOPE NEW PTG (MR) $14.95

FEB130893 XIII CINEBOOK ED GN VOL 16 MAXIMILIANS GOLD $11.95

MAR131330 X-O MANOWAR (VU) #13 (PD) REG HAIRSINE $3.99

MAGAZINES
FEB131114 2000 AD PACK APR 2013 $21.00

JAN131395 ALTER EGO #116 $8.95

FEB131240 ALTER EGO #117 $8.95

FEB130807 BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #4 (MR) $4.99

JAN131397 COMIC BOOK CREATOR #1 $8.95

MAR131440 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1352 PI

MAR130699 FAIRIES MAGAZINE #14 $4.99

MAR131479 HORRORHOUND #41 $6.99

FEB131115 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #335 $12.25

MAR131428 JUXTAPOZ #149 JUN 2013 $5.99

JAN131425 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #133 $9.95

FEB131285 SCI FI & FANTASY MODELLER VOL 29 $27.99

BOOKS
FEB131281 1000 INCREDIBLE COSTUME & COSPLAY IDEAS SC $25.00

NOV121322 AMERICAN COMIC BOOK CHRONICLES HC 1980S $41.95

FEB131282 ANIMATION SC $35.00

FEB131268 ARMY OF FROGS HC NOVEL VOL 01 $15.95

JAN130796 BAZOOKA JOE AND HIS GANG HC $19.95

FEB131249 DC SUPERMAN FLYING INTO ACTION WALL CLINGS SC $9.99

DEC121362 DOCTOR WHO OFFICIAL STICKER BOOK SC $12.99

DEC121363 DOCTOR WHO WHERES THE DOCTOR SC $7.99

FEB131269 FAERYLAND SECRET WORLD OF HIDDEN ONES $27.50

MAR131301 FROM HELL COMPANION SC (MR) $29.95

DEC121384 LEGO MINIFIGURE CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA $18.99

MAR131451 MIKE HAMMER NOVEL COMPLEX 90 HC $22.99

MAR131507 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI HC INTO VOID $27.00

MAR131508 STAR WARS STORYBOARDS PREQUEL TRILOGY HC $40.00

FEB131903 WARHAMMER 40K BANEBLADE SC $14.00

FEB131905 WARHAMMER GILEADS BLOOD SC $14.00

Monday, May 13, 2013

I Reads You Review: THE ROCKETEER: Hollywood Horror #3

THE ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #3
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

WRITER: Roger Langridge
ARTIST: J Bone
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVERS: Walter Simonson with Jordie Bellaire – regular cover
Walter Simonson – Cover RI; and James White – Strange Adventures Retailer Exclusive Cover
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2013)

The Rocketeer created by Dave Stevens

The Rocketeer vs. Hollywood Horror, Chapter 3 “In the soup”

I finally got around to reading the third issue of the latest Rocketeer comic book miniseries, The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror. This four-issue miniseries is written by cartoonist Roger Langridge and drawn by artist J Bone.

The Rocketeer is a fictional character created by the late artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens. The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious rocket (or jet) backpack that allows him to fly. Donning the backpack and a metal helmet, Secord becomes the adventurer and masked crime-fighter, The Rocketeer. His adventures begin in 1938 and continue into the 1940s (as of this writing). Most of his activities occur mainly in and around Los Angeles.

The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror opens in the year 1939. Cliff’s girlfriend, Betty, is searching for her missing roommate, newspaper reporter, Dahlia Danvers. Cliff is in trouble with the actual inventor of The Rocketeer’s jet-pack, who has sent henchmen to retrieve it. Cliff’s friend, partner, and ace airplane mechanic, Peevy, learns that an old WWI acquaintance, scientist August “Augie” Lowcroft, is missing. Everything centers on impresario and mystic, Reverend Otto Rune and his Church of Cosmicism.

As The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #3 opens, Cliff is left without his jet-pack. Betty, who has infiltrated Rune’s organization, gets in deeper, with encouragement from a cagey husband and wife detective team. Peevy has a surprise for Cliff. Everything points to a big event at the Octopus Club, but first Cliff makes a stop at The Flying Swan, a bar where he meets the narrator.

The veiled references and cameo appearances by famous Hollywood types are what I like most about The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror. Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy are among the stars that appear this time. That the narrator of Hollywood Horror might be a fictional version of Grouch Marx makes this a special treat for me. The suggested guest appearances by Nick and Nora Charles and the hint of Doc Savage go a long way in selling this series’ late 1930s setting.

Hollywood Horror’s story and plot are good, but the allusions and cameos make them even better. Bring on the conclusion.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mario Hernandez Headlines The Latino Comics Expo 2013


"Cartoonists, writers and animators return for the Latino Comics Expo at the Cartoon Art Museum"

San Francisco, CA: The Latino Comics Expo, the nation’s first convention focusing on Latino creators and Latino-themed subject matter, returns for its third consecutive year at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, from Saturday, June 1 to Sunday, June 2, 2013. Mario Hernandez (Love & Rockets) highlights an all-star line-up of artists and writers including Rafael Navarro (Sonambulo), Octavio Rodriguez (Pixar) , Gabrielle Gamboa (Miss Lonelyhearts) , Liz Mayorga (Spunky Cat Comix), Javier Hernandez (El Muerto), Jose Cabrera (Crying Macho Man), Daniel Parada (Zotz) , Crystal Gonzalez (In the Dark), Jaime Crespo (Tortilla), Grasiela Rodriguez (Spadra) and many others.

“When Ricardo Padilla and I first started the Expo, we weren’t sure just how big the demand would be for a comic convention focusing on Latino creators and subject matter” says Expo co-founder Javier Hernandez. “But the response from attendees, as well as the artists, has been an enthusiastic affirmation of our dream.”

A special attraction this year are a variety of panels being offered to the public, including Professor Frederick Aldama (Your Brain on Latino Comics), who will discuss his new book Multimediated Latinos: Film, Television, Web, Comics and Latinos in the 21st Century. Filmmaker Jim Lujan, recipient of this year’s Bill Plympton Award for Indie Animation, will make his first appearance at the Expo, screening a selection of his animated films. For creative individuals seeking to produce their own work, Nathan Sabri and Jacob Kaufman, lawyers with the firm Morrison & Foerster, will lead a panel and answer questions regarding Intellectual Property and Copyright Law. There will also be a workshop for kids, where participants create their own comics.

This Year's Latino Comics Expo is Dedicated to the Memory & Spirit of Spain Rodriguez, who passed away last year, and who was kind enough to participate in our 2012 Expo.

All events are open to the public and are included with paid admission to the Cartoon Art Museum at 655 Mission Street, near Yerba Buena Gardens between New Montgomery and Third Street in San Francisco.

The Latino Comics Expo was co-founded by Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez to provide a showcase for Latino creators and others to share their work with the public. Through published comics, webcomics, graphic novels and other visual mediums, the Expo seeks to share the Latino-American experience through the diversity of the artists and their works.

The Cartoon Art Museum, founded in 1984, is the only museum in the western United States dedicated to cartoons and comics in all their forms. The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms to benefit historians, cartoonists, journalists, artists, collectors and the general public.

Website: www.latinocomicsexpo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LatinoComicsExpo