Monday, September 30, 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

I Reads You Review: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

WRITER:  Phil Hester
ARTIST: Andrea Di Vito
COLORS: Rom Fajardo
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER: Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur with David Baron
COVER RIA: The Sharp Brothers
COVER RIB: Dave Sim
SUBSCRIPTION VARIANT COVER: Dave Sim with David Baron
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2013)

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was a team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics from 1965 to 1969.  The original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were an arm of the United Nations.  Their name, T.H.U.N.D.E.R., is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents the comic book series ran for 20 issues.  Two of the most popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Dynamo and NoMan, had short lived series.  After the demise of Tower Comics, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters did not appear in new comic book stories until 1983.  For the next four or five years, five different entities published T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics.  Except for a brief appearance in the 1990s, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents did not appear in new stories until DC Comics published a short-lived ongoing series and a miniseries beginning in 2010.

Now, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are at IDW Publishing.  The creative team of the 2013-launched T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book series is writer Phil Hester (Godzilla, Wonder Woman) and artist Andrea Di Vito (Dungeons & Dragons).

The first issue of IDW’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents had sold out by the time I made it to a comic book shop.  From the information I’ve gathered from the Web, IDW’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a reinvention of the concept and characters, to one extent or another.  I have grown weary of the term, “re-imagination,” because pop culture concepts and franchises that are re-imagined often seem as if they are not really the result of imagination.  It is as if the people behind some of these new versions just make arbitrary changes and tweek some things for the sake of “modernization.”

Thus, far I can’t really tell how much T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents has been changed.  Apparently the new series begins like this:  The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are dead, or will soon be.  It is up to new recruit Dynamo to master the incredible but lethal power of the Thunderbelt (which gives him his power) in time to rescue his teammates from the mysterious Iron Maiden, a classic T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents adversary.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 (The Judgment Tower, Part Two: “Embrace of the Iron Maiden”) opens as Dynamo makes his landing in “the disputed territory of Kashmir” (a sort of barren, rocky landscape that resembles parts of Pakistan or Afghanistan).  He must rescue Agents NoMan and Lightning from a secret T.H.U.N.D.E.R. station that is now under the control of the Iron Maiden.  Dynamo immediately meets someone who is supposed to be an ally, but seems too suspicious to trust.

There are only 20 pages of story in this 28-page comic book.  Dynamo lands in Kashmir, meets someone, penetrates his target, and gets captured.  Plus, some people talk and scheme.  What it took writer Phil Hester fifteen pages to do with Dynamo, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko would have done in three pages – tops, and with more imagination.

This comic book is not awful; it is just a story stretched too far.  It is a short story padded to be graphic novel-like.  It is boring.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is supposed to be a superhero action comic book, but this is stiff and phony.  Andrea Di Vito’s art is rigid, awkward, and clunky.  I must admit, however, that I do like the art Phil Hester drew for the cover.  In fact, Di Vito should go away.  Hester should become at least the pencil artist and give up the writing to someone else.

I think I may try another issue of this series.  I hope that IDW does not turn this T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book into a B.L.U.N.D.E.R.

C-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.




Friday, September 27, 2013

Book Review: HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. – @norton_fiction

WRITER/ARTIST: David Shrigley
ISBN: 978-0-393-24039-9; hardcover (September 23, 2013)
208pp, Color, $19.95 U.S., $26.50 CAN

British visual artist David Shrigley, B.A. (Hons) has worked as an author, cartoonist, illustrator, photographer, and sculptor.  He has also directed music videos, among them a video for “Good Song” by the musical act, Blur.

How Are You Feeling? At the Center of the Inside of the Human Brain’s Mind is a new book from David Shrigley the author.  It is not a graphic novel or prose novel.  How Are You Feeling? has elements of a diary, sketchbook, and chapbook as a hardcover book.  The book is composed of pictures with text, pages of text, or full page illustrations.  But what is How Are You Feeling? about, you ask?

How Are You Feeling? At the Center of the Inside of the Human Brain’s Mind is a mock self-help book and satirical advice book.  Shrigley takes his readers on a journey between the ears, offering readers his crazy and wacky notions and ideas on how the brain decides what is right and wrong.  Throughout the book, Shrigley offers advice that is shocking and funny, but is also ethically dubious in a “just joshing” sort of way.  Of course, readers who would take this peculiar advice to heart would find themselves living their lives disastrously, although others would find delight in that unpleasantness.

How Are You Feeling? can be a little difficult to explain.  It is simply a crazy advice book about the most vexing aspects of the mind and of the psyche.  The advice is so funny because it goes beyond mere crazy and into the deranged.  It is all deliberately wrong, but in a way that is infectious to one’s imagination.

For instance:  Shrigley’s advice about hearing voices in your head is to obey the voices for a short period and to continue if things work out.  On alcoholism, he writes, “it is terrific fun, of course, but there are problems with it.”  Playing neurologist, Shrigley offers this medical guidance:  “We all have internal wiring. Sometimes this wiring comes loose. . . . Check for loose wires and re-fasten them with glue.”  He even suggests waxing your brain for lasting, healthy-looking brain.

Readers on the lookout for anything that skewers self-help and mental health advice books must have How Are You Feeling? At the Center of the Inside of the Human Brain’s Mind.

A-

www.davidshrigley.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Review: MIGHTY AVENGERS #1

MIGHTY AVENGERS (2013) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Al Ewing
PENCILS: Greg Land
INKS: Jay Leisten
COLORS: Frank D’Armata
LETTERS: Cory Petit
COVER: Greg Land with Lee Duhig
VARIANT COVERS:  Bryan Hitch with Laura Martin; Carlo Barberi with Edgar Delgado; Leonel Castellani; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2013)

Rated T+

In comic books, how does one master the art of creating the first issue?  I say “art” because I think that producing a great first issue and continuing that into an exceptional comic book series, is an art.  The number of creators who can (1) produce a great first issue, (2) continue that into a distinguished comic book series, and (3) accomplish that feat more than once is relatively small.  I say Alan Moore, Peter Bagge, Kyle Baker, Brian Michael Bendis, Howard Chaykin, Daniel Clowes, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, and Frank Miller, among others.

[Of course, there are creators who produce great first issues which only result in uneven series.  Can you say Grant Morrison?]

And then, there are the creators you wonder about.  They deliver an unspectacular first issue, and that makes me suspicious about the rest of the series.  In a market crowded with superhero comic books, the creative team has to open with a bang.  The new reader/customer needs something that seems like more than just the first chapter of an upcoming trade paperback collection.

Out of Marvel Comics’ “Infinity” event comes a relaunch of Mighty Avengers.  British comic book writer Al Ewing and reliable artist Greg Land deliver the ultimate cookie cutter Avengers comic book in Mighty Avengers #1.  This comic book is not a bad cookie, but it is not a $3.99 cookie.

It is more like a cookie you can get in a $1 bag of cookies at a dollar store (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, etc.).  So Mighty Avengers is not even the equivalent of a “quality” mass-produced cookie brand (Nabisco?).  It is certainly not a boutique shop cookie baked by two broke girls who just opened their own cookie shop with daddy’s money.

So what happens in this new comic book called Mighty Avengers?  The Avengers are off-world, handling someone else’s business, so who is handling their business back home?  Thanos sends a badass bitch named Proxima Midnight to take advantage of an Avenger-less Earth.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Luke Cage, Spectrum (formerly known as Negress Captain Marvel), Superior Spider-Man (more like Snobby Spider-Man), Power Man and a few others have conversations about themselves.  Then, they fight.

I think Mighty Avengers is supposed to be clever or at least funny in the vein of the old Keith Giffen-J.M. DeMatteis-Kevin Maguire Justice League.  It is neither.  So much for that wry British humor.  The computer program that Judith Krantz, Danielle Steel, and other bestselling authors supposedly use to write their novels must be similar to the tech Greg Land uses to draw his clone superhero comic book art.  The result of Ewing and Land’s efforts is a comic book that is neither mighty nor spectacular, but it isn’t completely bad.  It is Avengers and if you like Avengers, well...

I have heard people describe Mighty Avengers as the “ethnic Avengers” or even the “black Avengers.”  I guess those could be somewhat accurate descriptions, but not when it comes to the creative team.  Marvel Comics editors act like they’re scared of n*gg*s... or at least can’t find Black comic book writers amongst their friends and colleagues.

Anyway, fans that just gots to have an Avengers fix will want Mighty Avengers, although (if you ask me) they need to diversify their reading list – if just a little.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.




Tuesday, September 24, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 2013

DC COMICS

JUL130179 ACTION COMICS #23.4 METALLO $3.99
JUL138009 ACTION COMICS #23.4 METALLO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130214 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #5 $3.99
JUN130264 AME COMI GIRLS TP VOL 01 $14.99
JUL130167 AQUAMAN #23.2 OCEAN MASTER $3.99
JUL138012 AQUAMAN #23.2 OCEAN MASTER STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130188 BATMAN #23.4 BANE $3.99
JUL138013 BATMAN #23.4 BANE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130192 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.4 KILLER CROC $3.99
JUL138017 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.4 KILLER CROC STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138301 BATMAN SUPERMAN #2 2ND PTG $3.99
JUL130184 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3.1 DOOMSDAY $3.99
JUL138019 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3.1 DOOMSDAY STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130196 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.4 JOKERS DAUGHTER $3.99
JUL138021 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.4 JOKERS DAUGHTER STD ED $2.99
JUL130200 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.4 MAN BAT $3.99
JUL138024 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.4 MAN BAT STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130204 GREEN LANTERN #23.4 SINESTRO $3.99
JUL138031 GREEN LANTERN #23.4 SINESTRO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130221 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #9 $3.99
JUL130159 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.4 SECRET SOCIETY $3.99
JUL138034 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.4 SECRET SOCIETY STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130218 JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 03 THRONE OF ATLANTIS (N52) $24.99
JUL130163 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.4 BLACK ADAM $3.99
JUL138036 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.4 BLACK ADAM STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130261 JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 THE VILLAINS JOURNEY (N52) $16.99
MAY130233 LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT JIM APARO HC VOL 2 $49.99
JUN130299 PREACHER TP BOOK 02 (MR) $19.99
MAY130219 SHAZAM HC VOL 01 (N52) $24.99
JUL130183 SUPERMAN #23.4 PARASITE $3.99
JUL138041 SUPERMAN #23.4 PARASITE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130270 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #3 $2.99
JUL130261 UNWRITTEN #53 (MR) $2.99
JUL130274 WAKE #4 (MR) $2.99
JUL130175 WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN $3.99
JUL138046 WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN STANDARD ED $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR130317 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS SUPERGIRL STATUE $124.95
MAY130271 DC THE NEW 52 TRINITY WAR AF BOX SET $49.95


Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 2013

MARVEL COMICS

JUL130611 A PLUS X #12 $3.99
JUL130580 AVENGERS #20 INF $3.99
JUL130599 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #19 INF $3.99
JUL130684 DEADPOOL #17 $2.99
JUL130648 FF #12 $2.99
JUL130681 GAMBIT #17 $2.99
JUN130619 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #6 $3.99
JUL130594 INFINITY HEIST #1 $3.99
AUG130872 MARVEL UNIVERSE THOR COMIC READER TP #1 $3.99
JUL130725 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN DIGEST TP VOL 04 $9.99
JUL130652 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #18 $2.99
JUL130698 MMW ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH TP VOL 01 $29.99
JUL130596 NOVA #8 INF $3.99
JUL130641 PUNISHER TRIAL OF PUNISHER #1 $3.99
JUL130625 SCARLET SPIDER #22 $2.99
JUL130717 SHIELD TP NICK FURY VS SHIELD NEW PTG $29.99
JUL130720 SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 02 $29.99
JUL130601 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #3 INF $3.99
JUL130715 ULTIMATE COMICS DIVIDED WE FALL UNITED WE STAND TP $34.99
JUL130613 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #27 $3.99
JUL130603 UNCANNY AVENGERS #12 $3.99
JUL130673 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #36 $3.99
JUL138140 WOLVERINE IN FLESH #1 2ND PTG SEELEY VAR $3.99
JUL130609 YOUNG AVENGERS #10 NOW $2.99
JUL130714 YOUNG MARVEL TP LITTLE X-MEN LITTLE AVENGERS BIG TROUBLE $24.99


IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for September 25 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

JUL130371 100 PENNY PRESS LOCKE & KEY #1 $1.00
JUL130390 DINOSAURS ATTACK #3 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130340 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME TP VOL 02 $17.99
JUL130335 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CUTTER #5 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130372 GI JOE #8 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130377 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #7 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130325 GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #4 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUN138204 HALF PAST DANGER #1 3RD PTG $3.99
JUL130318 JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS #3 $3.99
JUL130303 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #11 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130366 OTHER DEAD #1 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130295 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130298 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 BOX SET $15.99
JUL130342 STAR TREK ONGOING #25 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130386 TMNT ONGOING #26 $3.99
JUN138205 TRANSFORMERS MONSTROSITY #2 2ND PTG $3.99
JUL130357 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #21 [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL130362 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #5 [DIG/D+] $3.99


Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN130011 ART OF AKANEIRO HC $19.99
JUL130064 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #3 $2.99
JUL130043 CRIMINAL MACABRE EYES OF FRANKENSTEIN #1 $3.99
MAY130031 CRIMINAL MACABRE FINAL NIGHT 30 DAYS NIGHT XOVER TP $17.99
JUL130068 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #28 (MR) $7.99
MAY130035 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 14 $49.99
JUL130076 EMPOWERED SPECIAL #5 NINE BEERS WITH NINJETTE $3.99
JUL130101 GAME OF THRONES FOUR SIGIL SHOT GLASS SET $19.99
JUL130099 GAME OF THRONES PINT GLASS SET STARK & BARATHEON $19.99
JUL130100 GAME OF THRONES PINT GLASS SET TARGARYEN & LANNISTER $19.99
AUG130124 GAME OF THRONES STANNIS BARATHEON SHIELD PIN $14.99
JAN130156 GARY BASEMAN PINT GLASS $9.99
MAY130078 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE DIY $19.99
MAY130076 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE GREY MONOTONE $19.99
MAY130077 HELLBOY 5 INCH MINI QEE HELLBOY WITH HORNS $19.99
JUL130059 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #2 $2.99
JUL130029 KING CONAN HOUR O/T DRAGON #5 $3.50
JUL130019 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #3 $3.99
JUL130071 MIND MGMT #15 $3.99
MAY130033 SIN TITULO HC $19.99
JUL130014 STAR WARS LEGACY II #7 $2.99


Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 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

JUL130516 ARTIFACTS #31 [DIG] $3.99
JAN130494 CYBER FORCE REBIRTH TP VOL 01 [DIG] $9.99
JUL130420 EAST OF WEST #6 [DIG] $3.50
JUN130542 FATALE #17 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUN130477 HIP FLASK UNNATURAL SELECTION 10TH ANNIV ELEPHANTMEN ED HC $16.99
JUN130547 JUPITERS LEGACY #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN138034 JUPITERS LEGACY #3 CVR B HITCH (MR) $2.99
JUN138035 JUPITERS LEGACY #3 CVR C PHILLIPS (MR) $2.99
JUL130404 RAT QUEENS #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUL130537 REVIVAL #14 [DIG] $2.99
JUL138176 SAGA #13 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JUL130538 SAGA #14 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130541 SEX #7 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130403 SEX CRIMINALS #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
SEP120445 SOHO DIVES SOHO DIVAS LTD ED HC (MR) $49.99
SEP120444 SOHO DIVES SOHO DIVAS TP (MR) [DIG] $29.99
JUL130469 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 19 $14.99
JUL130431 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #5 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130500 WALKING DEAD 100 PROJECT TP (MR) $12.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

MAY131850 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 AF PI
MAY131852 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 CLAY MATTHEWS AF CS PI
MAY131853 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 DEZ BRYANT AF CS PI
MAY131856 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 KAEPERNICK AF CS PI
MAY131857 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 RGIII AF CS PI
MAY131859 NFL PLAYMAKERS SERIES 4 RUSSELL WILSON AF CS PI
MAY131842 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 RAY RICE AF CS PI


Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 25 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
AUG132462 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #164 $3.99
AUG130043 MARVEL PREVIEWS OCTOBER 2013 EXTRAS $1.25
AUG130045 PREVIEWS #301 OCT 2013 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM EXTRAS PI
AUG130047 PREVIEWS #301 OCT 2013 RETAILER ORDER FORM EXTRAS PI
AUG130042 PREVIEWS #301 OCTOBER 2013 [DIG/D+] $4.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JUL130957 ADVENTURE TIME #15 CALGARY EXCLUSIVE $9.99
JUN130923 ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 02 $34.99
JUN130760 ARCHIE 1000 PG COMICS EXTRAVAGANZA TP $14.99
JUL131359 ARE YOU ALICE GN VOL 02 $11.99
MAY131251 ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV #11 $2.75
JUL130899 BART SIMPSON COMICS #86 $2.99
JUN131034 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #4 (MR) $3.99
JUL131234 BENNY BREAKIRON HC VOL 02 MADAME ADOLPHINE $11.99
JUL131360 BETRAYAL KNOWS MY NAME GN VOL 06 $12.00
JUN131050 BIONIC MAN #24 $3.99
JUL131311 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #14 PULLBOX LUPACCHINO $3.99
JUN131259 BODIE TROLL #3 $2.99
JUN131362 BOKURANO OURS GN VOL 09 $12.99
JUL131361 BRIDES STORY HC GN BOOK 05 $17.00
JUL131261 BUTTON MAN GET HARRY EX GN (MR) $29.99
JUN130891 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
MAY130913 CRITTER (ONGOING) #14 $3.50
AUG131041 CROSSED BADLANDS #25 CATFIGHT CVR (MR) $5.99
JUN130825 CROSSED BADLANDS #36 (MR) $3.99
JUN130827 CROSSED BADLANDS #36 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130826 CROSSED BADLANDS #36 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL130736 CRYPT OF HORROR #19 $29.95
JUL131078 DARK SHADOWS YEAR ONE #6 $3.99
MAY131092 DF WOM DEJAH THORIS #29 RISQUE RED EXC $19.99
APR131245 DMC DEVIL MAY CRY CHRONICLES OF VERGIL HC $9.99
MAR131225 DOMINO LADY / SHERLOCK HOLMES #2 [DIG] $3.99
JUL130836 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #15 CVR A HANSON [DIG] $3.99
JUL130837 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #15 CVR B QUALANO $3.99
JUL130838 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #15 CVR C TORQUE PI
MAY130890 EXTINCTION PARADE #2 LEATHER CVR (MR) $14.99
JUL130944 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #18 [DIG] $3.99
JUL131275 FARLAINE THE GOBLIN #1 $5.00
APR131238 FINDING GOSSAMYR HC VOL 01 $24.95
MAY131032 GARTH ENNIS RED TEAM #5 (MR) $3.99
JUL131183 GENSHIKEN SECOND SEASON GN VOL 03 $10.99
JUL131383 GFT NO TOMORROW #2 A CVR SIQUERIA $2.99
JUL131384 GFT NO TOMORROW #2 B CVR LILLY $2.99
JUL131385 GFT NO TOMORROW #2 C CVR PATTERSON $2.99
JUL131412 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #2 A CVR QUALANO $2.99
JUL131413 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #2 B CVR LAISO $2.99
JUL131414 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #2 C CVR SPAY $2.99
JUL131406 GFT WONDERLAND #15 A CVR DOONEY $2.99
JUL131407 GFT WONDERLAND #15 B CVR ERIC J $2.99
JUL131408 GFT WONDERLAND #15 C CVR TOLIBAO $2.99
JUL131026 GREEN HORNET LEGACY #41 $3.99
JUL131326 HARBINGER TP VOL 03 HARBINGER WARS $14.99
MAY130914 IN CROWD #2 $3.50
JUN131254 JUDGE DREDD TRIFECTA GN (MR) $31.99
JUL130806 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #32 REG CVR [DIG/D+] $3.99
JUL131163 LOST BOY GN $12.99
JUL131164 LOST BOY HC GN $24.99
JUL131128 MAGIC WIND GN VOL 02 $12.99
JUL131031 MISS FURY #6 CVR A TAN $3.99
JUL131032 MISS FURY #6 CVR B SYAF $3.99
JUL131033 MISS FURY #6 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
JUL131034 MISS FURY #6 CVR D CHEN $3.99
JUN130744 MOUSE GUARD LEGENDS O/T GUARD VOL 2 #3 $3.50
JUL131214 MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS #4 $3.99
APR131221 NEOZOIC TRADERS GAMBIT #2 $3.50
JUN131365 OOKU INNER CHAMBERS GN VOL 08 (MR) $12.99
JUL130950 PEANUTS VOL 2 #12 [DIG] $3.99
JUL130931 PLANET OF THE APES GIANT #1 [DIG] $4.99
MAY130753 PROJECT LUNA 1947 GN $15.99
JUL131264 REBETIKO HC GN $22.95
AUG131364 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED BOX SET #1 VOL 1-6 $65.94
JUL131185 SHERLOCK BONES VOL 01 $10.99
JUL130900 SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #19 $4.99
JUL131372 SOUL EATER TP VOL 16 (MR) $11.99
MAR130853 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #7 CVR A KONAT [DIG] $3.99
MAR130854 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #7 CVR B QUALANO $3.99
MAY131193 SPIDER MASTER OF MEN HC $19.95
JUL131232 STARDOLL GN VOL 01 SECRETS AND DREAMS $7.99
JUL131233 STARDOLL HC VOL 01 SECRETS AND DREAMS $11.99
JUN130851 STITCHED #16 (MR) $3.99
JUN130853 STITCHED #16 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130852 STITCHED #16 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL131299 SUPER #1 $2.99
JUL130909 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #82 (MR) [DIG] $2.95
JUL131087 THE LONE RANGER ANNUAL 2013 $4.99
JUN131290 TOMORROWLAND #3 $3.99
JUL131331 TROPIC OF THE SEA GN $14.95
AUG131036 UBER #0 ENHANCED BATTLESHIPS ED (MR) $5.99
AUG131037 UBER #2 FIRST APPEARANCE MIYOTO CVR (MR) $5.99
AUG131038 UBER #3 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR) $5.99
JUL131216 WASTELAND #48 (MR) $3.99
AUG131418 WORLD MAP ROOM GN $19.95

MAGAZINES
JUN130876 BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #6 (MR) $4.99
MAY131472 BRICKJOURNAL #25 $8.95
JUN131433 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #20 $17.99
JUL131443 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1371 PI
MAY131487 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 68 $14.95
JUL131464 DR WHO MAGAZINE #464 $9.99
JUL131481 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #257 MONSTER KIDS CVR $9.99
MAY131469 HOBBY JAPAN AUG 2013 $16.60
JUN131252 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #339 $12.25
JUL131504 LOCUS #632 $7.50
JUL131507 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 76 $14.95
JUL131285 STAR WARS CLONE WARS MAGAZINE #20 $4.99

BOOKS
AUG131606 ART FUNDAMENTALS SLIPCASED SC $49.99
AUG131607 BEGINNERS GT CREATING MANGA ART SC $24.99
JUL131438 CLASSIC ERA OF AMERICAN COMICS SC $24.95
AUG131626 DC COMICS GUIDE TO WRITING COMICS SC NEW PTG $22.95
JUL131459 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP TWO FACES DOUBLE TAKE $4.95
JUN131469 DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN YR TP ATTACK O/T CHEETAH $4.95
JUL131466 DOCTOR WHO CYBERMAN BUST & BOOK KIT $9.95
MAY131406 FRANK FRAZETTA ART AND REMEMBRANCES HC $49.99
MAY131468 GOTHIC & LOLITA BIBLE #47 $35.00
JUL131512 HALO 4 ESSENTIAL VISUAL GUIDE HC $16.99
JUL131495 LEGO MINIFIGURE YEAR BY YEAR VISUAL CHRONICLE HC $40.00
AUG131582 SAVAGE ART OF BOB LARKIN SC VOL 01 $19.95
JUL131509 STAR TREK ORIGINAL TOPPS TRADING CARD SERIES HC $19.95
JUL132291 WARHAMMER 40K BETRAYER MMPB $9.99
JUN132367 WARHAMMER 40K LORDS OF MARS HC $24.99


Monday, September 23, 2013

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Book Review: SLOW GETTING UP

SLOW GETTING UP: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile
HARPER (HarperCollins Publishers) – @HarperCollins

AUTHOR: Nate Jackson
ISBN: 978-0-06-210802-9; hardcover (September 17, 2013)
256pp, B&W, $26.99 U.S.

Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile is a 2013 non-fiction book written by Nate Jackson.  Published by Harper, Slow Getting Up is a memoir about Jackson’s time in the National Football League.  This book is one of the best insider accounts about life in the NFL because it is by and about a guy who lived the NFL.

Slow Getting Up allows the reader to imagine the National Football League (NFL) without the glamorous sheen put on it by the propaganda machine from the NFL home office and its PR mavens.  Jackson talks about the NFL game without the pre-game hype and hyped-up human interest stories brought to you by ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, etc.  Could the NFL still be compelling and captivating without the propaganda and hype?  I guess that depends on who is doing the selling and storytelling.

When the game is sold by an actual NFL player – when the tale is told by a man who was in the NFL trenches – when it is all put together by a man who just happens to be a talented writer, it can beat the NFL machine and its media partners at their game.  The game and tale is played and told in Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile.  The author is Nate Jackson, the former NFL player with a gift for storytelling.

From 1999 to 2001, Jackson played college football at NCAA Division III school, Menlo College, where he was an All-American.  In addition to setting many Menlo College records as a wide receiver, Jackson was also NCAA D-III Offensive Player of the Year (2001).

Jackson went undrafted in the 2002 NFL Draft, but he had a connection with legendary football coach, the late Bill Walsh.  Jackson was signed by the San Francisco 49ers, the team Walsh guided to three Super Bowl victories.  Jackson spent the duration of 2002 on the 49ers’ practice squad, but was waived after the season.  Jackson was signed by the Denver Broncos and spent six seasons there (2003-2008).  Cut after the 2008 season, Jackson signed with the Cleveland Browns, but was cut before the 2009 season began.  Jackson signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of a new professional football league, the UFL, but never played for the team.

Reading Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile is like seeing through a window into the NFL.  The book offers so many surprising revelations.  The result could be many book reviews that are filled with spoilers that could ruin the fun of reading the book.

I will say that Nate Jackson uses Slow Getting Up to open the door on the day-to-day activities and processes of an NFL team, from the perspective of a player who is not a star.  So we see daily practice and training camps in all their micro-managed, anal retentive, over-thought anti-glory.  Jackson depicts days-off and downtime in a new light that mixes guys’-night-out with daily tedium.  Jackson even gives a glimpse of what life in the NFL Europe was like.

However, I must admit that no fan or follower of the NFL will want to miss Jackson’s recollections about his short stint with the Cleveland Browns and the Brown then coach Eric Mangini.  Jackson offers more details about the absurdity that was the Man-genius in a way ESPN never did.  The ten pages that cover Jackson’s stint with the Browns makes this book’s cover price of $26.99 a bargain.  Plus, be shocked out how the league deals with injuries.  No wonder the league is so anxious to settle that class action lawsuit over concussions and head injuries.

After reading Slow Getting Up, I believe that Nate Jackson was born to experience life and write great prose about it.  He is the kind of writer who could experience war and later turn it into the story of a lifetime.  I can only imagine the superb manuscript Jackson could have written if he’d played on the Los Angeles Lakers during the years Shaquille O’Neill and Kobe Bryant played together.  As a Major League Baseball player, Jackson probably could have written the definitive book on the use of performance enhancing drugs in the MLB.

But at least we have Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile.  Jackson may have been, in part, an end-of-the-bench player in the NFL, but Slow Getting Up belongs at the top of the pile of sports books.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.




Friday, September 20, 2013

Review: IKIGAMI: The Ultimate Limit Volume 9

IKIGAMI, VOL. 9
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Motoro Mase
TRANSLATION:  John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Kristina Blachere
LETTERER: Freeman Wong
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5307-8; paperback (August 2013); Rated “M” for “Mature”
232pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Motoro Mase is the artist of such manga as Kyoichi and HEADS.  His series, Ikigami, is published in North American as Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit.

Ikigami takes place in a new near-future version of Japan.  The government of Japan believes its citizens are apathetic, lazy, and unmotivated.  To make citizens appreciate life, the government creates the National Welfare Act, a law that mandates the killing of a portion of the population that is age 18 to 24.  Each day, a civil servant, like Kengo Fujimoto, from the Ministry of Health and Welfare delivers an ikigami – a death paper – to a young citizen, informing the recipient that he or she will be killed within 24 hours.

In Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Vol. 9, two more young people receive an ikigami in two stories that share as a theme, the morality of immunization.  As one struggles to protect vulnerable children, the other is a prisoner of fate, but the actions of both may earn them the label of being a “social miscreant.”

In Episode 17 (“National Welfare Immunization”), Hitomi Oba is a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Musashigawa General Hospital.  The fate of the premature infants in her care and the attitudes of their parents trouble her.  As she tries to adjust to a new position, Hitomi meets her new supervisor, Dr. Nishikawa, and the doctor’s terrible secret brings Hitomi to the brink.

In Episode 18 (“Two Fallen in War”), the fate of two fellow students, Yoshiki Miike and Isokichi Futaba, are intertwined, perhaps for longer than they ever realized.  After one of them receives an ikigami, the other seeks revenge for an old grievance, and now, only the grandfather of one can save them both by telling a story of the other boy’s grandfather.

Meanwhile, the country moves towards war as the Federation becomes aggressive and Japan’s hopes for protection rest in its “Ally.”

Over the course of 18 story arcs, the Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit manga has quietly developed into a rich tale that balances plot, setting, and characters.  Initially, the series seemed like a high concept manga that used characters as mere agents by which creator Motoro Mase delivered shocking scenes and heart-rending endings.

While Mase told intimate stories filled with deeply personal details about his characters, he also slowly unveiled the setting, providing more glimpses of a near-future Japan that were both broader and more detailed.  Being about interesting times in a remarkable place is what moves Ikigami past being just a science fiction character drama with tragic overtones and poignant moments.

I always thought that the series had potential to be speculative fiction with social commentary – satirical, metaphorical, and literal.  Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit Volume 9 delivers on that potential.  Ikigami speaks of things to come, but with each story, Motoro Mase depicts a world that is like our own.  Is this story a warning or a mirror held up to us or both?

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit is an excellent and exceptional series.  If Motoro Mase were British and Ikigami were published by DC Comics’ imprint, Vertigo, it would already be a multiple-Eisner Award nominee, probably with at least one win.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.




Thursday, September 19, 2013

I Reads You Review: CONSTANTINE #2

CONSTANTINE #2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Renato Guedes
COLORS: Marcelo Mailolo
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Juan Jose Ryp and Brett Smith
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Rated T+ (Teen Plus)

The Spark and the Flame Part 2: “The Blind Man”

It has been a few months since I read Constantine #1, the re-launch of the long-running comic book series, Hellblazer.  I thought that first issue showed promise for the series and as a fresh start for title character, John Constantine.  Now, I’ve just read the second issue, and I am not so sure.

Constantine #2 is the second part of the opening story arc, “The Spark and the Flame.”  Issue #2 continues John Constantine’s search for Croydon’s Compass, a powerful tool of divination that, of course, has the potential for evil in the wrong hands.  Also looking for Croydon’s Compass is the Cult of the Cold Flame (or simply “Cold Flame”), a group of powerful malevolent magic-using types.

Croydon’s Compass has been broken into three parts.  John has the first part, the needle, and now, he has arrived in Myanmar to find the second piece, the dial.  Waiting for him is Mr. E. and The Spectre, who really wants to get his spectral hands of John.

Constantine #2 is a comic book full of characters trying to be clever, but they are neither particularly interesting nor especially boring.  Their cleverness simply registers nothing.  Even this chapter of “The Spark and the Flame” seems as if it is inconsequential to the larger narrative.  This is the first time I am really starting to wonder about the wisdom of ending Hellblazer in order to start Constantine.  Or maybe DC Comics just needs to cut back on the use of writer Jeff Lemire.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.




Wednesday, September 18, 2013

2013 Harvey Award Winners Complete List

Comic Professionals Honor Peers at the 2013 Harvey Awards Banquet

Comic Professionals came together Saturday night, September 7, 2013 to honor their peers during the presentation of the 2013 Harvey Awards.

The 2013 Harvey Awards were sponsored by presenting Sponsor Guinness; Platinum Sponsors Baltimore Comic-Con and Cards, Comics & Collectibles; Gold Sponsors Boom! Studios, DC Entertainment, Third Eye Comics; Silver Sponsors ComicMix, Comic WOW!, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, Insight Studios; Friend Sponsors Steve Conley's Bloop, Fantastic Forum, Graphitti Designs, and Painted Visions Comics, Cards & Games; and Gift Bag Sponsors Abrams ComicArts, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, DC Entertainment, Dynamite Entertainment, Fantastic Forum, Honest Tea, IDW Publishing, Popfun Collectibles, Random House publishing, Scholastic, and Valiant. The banquette to honor those nominated and the winners in more than 20 categories was hosted by the Baltimore Comic-Con and Cards, Comics & Collectibles.

Named in honor of Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the field of comics, and is the only industry award both nominated and selected by comic professionals. First awarded in 1988, it is one the industries oldest and most respected awards.

Writer Bill Willingham, best know as the scribe of Vertigo's Fables, acted as host and Master of Ceremonies for this year's event.

Special thanks go to the sponsors who generously donated to the 2013 Harvey Gift Bags, including: Abrams ComicArts; BOOM! Studios; Dark Horse Comics; DC Entertainment; Dynamite Entertainment; Fantastic Forum; Honest Tea; IDW Publishing; Popfun Collectibles; Random House Publishing; Scholastic Books; and Valiant Entertainment.

The 2013 Harvey Award winners include:

Best Original Graphic Album:  RICHARD STARK'S PARKER: THE SCORE, IDW

Best Continuing or Limited Series:  SAGA, Image Comics

Best Writer:  Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA, Image Comics

Best Artist:  Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

Best Cartoonist:  Jaime Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES

Best Single Issue or Story:  SAGA # 1, Image Comics

Best Letterer:  Todd Klein, FABLES, DC Comics

Best Colorist:  Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

Best Syndicated Strip or Panel:  DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services

Best Online Comics Work:  BATTLEPUG, Mike Norton, http://www.battlepug.com/

Best American Edition of Foreign Material:  BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL, Dark Horse

Best Inker:  Klaus Janson, CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics

Best New Series:  SAGA, Image Comics

Most Promising New Talent:  Dennis Hopeless, AVENGERS ARENA, Marvel Comics

Special Award for Humor in Comics:  Ryan North, ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios

Best Original Graphic Publication for Younger Readers:  ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios

Best Graphic Album Previously Published:  ALIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY, Titan Books

Best Anthology:  DARK HORSE PRESENTS, various, Dark Horse

Best Domestic Reprint Project:  DAVID MAZZUCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN: ARTIST'S EDITION, IDW

Best Cover Artist:  David Aja, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics

Best Biographical, Historical or Journalistic Presentation:  ROBOT 6 WEBSITE, Comic Book Resources

Special Award for Excellence in Presentation:  BUILDING STORIES, Chris Ware, Pantheon Books

Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award:  Paul Levitz

Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award: Sal Buscema

In addition, the Baltimore Comic-Con would like to thank those individuals who presented at this year's award ceremony, including: Joe Staton, Roger Langridge, Mark Buckingham, Ron Frenz, Dinesh Shamdasani, Bob Chapman, Josh Adams, Ramona Fradon, Mark Waid, Steve Geppi, Joe Hill, Dean Haspiel, Terry Moore, Neal Adams, Dan Parent, and Stan Sakai.  We would also like to thank Mark Wheatley for his contributions to our voting ballots, program guide for the evening, and awards ceremony presentation, and Glenn Hauman for his "web mastery".

The Baltimore Comic will host the Harvey Awards for the ninth year during the 15th annual show, taking place September 5-7, 2014.

In the coming monthss, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution

promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications

registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations

harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet

general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 25 years, the last 7 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 18 2013

DC COMICS

JUL130267 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #4 (MR) $2.99
JUL130178 ACTION COMICS #23.3 LEX LUTHOR $3.99
JUL138008 ACTION COMICS #23.3 LEX LUTHOR STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130215 ARROW #11 $3.99
JUN130265 ARROW TP VOL 01 $16.99
JUL130187 BATMAN #23.3 PENGUIN $3.99
JUL138014 BATMAN #23.3 PENGUIN STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130212 BATMAN 66 #3 $3.99
JUL130191 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.3 RAS AL GHUL $3.99
JUL138018 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.3 RAS AL GHUL STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130217 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #2 $3.99
JUL130195 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3 CLAYFACE $3.99
JUL138020 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3 CLAYFACE STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130225 BATWOMAN HC VOL 03 WORLDS FINEST (N52) $22.99
JUN130269 BATWOMAN TP VOL 02 TO DROWN THE WORLD (N52) $14.99
JUL130199 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.3 SCARECROW $3.99
JUL138025 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.3 SCARECROW STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130259 FABLES #133 (MR) $2.99
JUL130172 FLASH #23.3 ROGUES $3.99
JUL138028 FLASH #23.3 ROGUES STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130203 GREEN LANTERN #23.3 BLACK HAND $3.99
JUL138029 GREEN LANTERN #23.3 BLACK HAND STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130158 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E $3.99
JUL138032 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138228 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #22 2ND PTG (TRINITY) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JUL130165 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.2 ECLIPSO $3.99
JUL138035 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.2 ECLIPSO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138227 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 2ND PTG (TRINITY) $3.99
JUL130162 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.3 SHADOW THIEF $3.99
JUL138038 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.3 SHADOW THIEF STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130272 SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS TP VOL 01 $19.99
JUN130273 STORMWATCH TP VOL 03 BETRAYAL (N52) $16.99
JUL130182 SUPERMAN #23.3 HEL $3.99
JUL138040 SUPERMAN #23.3 HEL STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130205 SWAMP THING #23.1 ARCANE $3.99
JUL138042 SWAMP THING #23.1 ARCANE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130207 TEEN TITANS #23.2 DEATHSTROKE $3.99
JUL138043 TEEN TITANS #23.2 DEATHSTROKE STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130251 UNWRITTEN HC TOMMY TAYLOR & THE SHIP THAT SANK TWICE (MR) $22.99
JUL130174 WONDER WOMAN #23.1 CHEETAH $3.99
JUL138045 WONDER WOMAN #23.1 CHEETAH STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130284 WORLD OF WARCRAFT PEARL OF PANDARIA TP $16.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAY130286 HUSH SCARECROW NIGHTWING POISON IVY AF 3 PACK $49.95


Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 18 2013

MARVEL COMICS

JUN130678 ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 03 OUT OF THEIR DEPTH NOW $24.99
JUL130688 CABLE AND X-FORCE #14 $3.99
JUL130600 CAPTAIN MARVEL #16 INF $2.99
JUL130644 DAREDEVIL #31 $2.99
JUL138068 INFINITY #1 2ND PTG CHEUNG VAR $4.99
JUL130570 INFINITY #3 $3.99
JUN130693 INHUMANS TP ORIGIN OF INHUMANS $39.99
JUN130697 IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP ENEMY WITHIN $39.99
APR130708 MMW DAREDEVIL HC VOL 07 $69.99
JUL130626 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #9 $2.99
JUL130577 NEW AVENGERS #10 INF $3.99
JUN130666 POWERS BUREAU #7 (MR) $3.95
JUN130685 RED SHE-HULK TP VOL 02 ROUTE 616 NOW $15.99
JUN130647 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #8 $3.99
JUL130610 SECRET AVENGERS #9 $3.99
JUL130622 SUPERIOR CARNAGE #3 $3.99
JUL130621 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #18 $3.99
JUL130628 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #13 $3.99
JUL130595 THUNDERBOLTS #15 INF $2.99
JUN130681 THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 02 RED SCARE NOW $15.99
JUL130614 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #31 $3.99
JUL130670 UNCANNY X-MEN #12 $3.99
JUL130624 VENOM #41 $2.99
JUL130692 WOLVERINE MAX #11 (MR) $3.99
JUN130694 WOLVERINE TP RETURN OF WEAPON X $44.99
JUL130690 X-MEN LEGACY #17 $2.99


IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for September 18 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

JUL130341 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #4 $3.99
JUL130336 DOCTOR WHO VOL 3 #13 $3.99
JUN130360 GHOSTBUSTERS #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130369 HALF PAST DANGER #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130334 JOE HILL THE CAPE HC DELUXE ED $39.99
APR130362 POPEYE CLASSICS HC VOL 02 $29.99
JUL130309 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #14 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130408 STAR TREK BEST OF KLINGONS TP $24.99
JUL130345 STAR TREK NEWSPAPER STRIP HC VOL 02 $49.99
JUL130350 THUNDER AGENTS #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130369 TMNT CLASSICS TP VOL 06 $19.99
JUL130382 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #3 $3.99
JUL130354 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #0 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130361 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE TP VOL 04 $19.99
JUL130328 X-FILES SEASON 10 #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99