The Adventures of NIKKI HARRIS the Cybermation Witch #10

THE ADVENTURES OF NIKKI HARRIS THE CYBERMATION WITCH No. 10
CANDLE LIGHT PRESS/Warning Comics – @candlelightpres @attila71

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Carter Allen – @attila71
32pp, Color, $3.00 U.S. (2016 – 3rd)

The Fall of Nikki Harris, Part1: “Save the Day”

When last we saw her, Nikki Harris (cybermation witch and sci-fi heroine) played the role of god-killer as she stopped “Planet Gods” from freezing the people of the planet Pluto in their icy grip.  However, Nikki finds herself not being received as a conquering hero should.

The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #10 (“Save the Day”) opens on Dogura Prime, where Nikki Harris makes time to stop a bank robbery.  Hold up!  There is a new superhero team in town, “Justice C,” and its members think Nikki is more trouble than she is worth.  Captain Cyclops, Arma Oculta, Crimson Cload, Lectronik, Burbuja, and Tiger Titan believe they have everything in hand, and that Nikki should learn to play better with others.  The Green Stygma thinks they all suck.

The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch is always entertaining.  It not only gets better with each issue, but it also offers some new, novel treat with each installment.  Creator Carter Allen embraces the inherent weirdness of comic books and presents his readers with inventive characters.

Nikki Harris #10 continues to head towards the end of the series as if no such thing were going to happen.  This issue is as fresh as the early issues.  How could Nikki Harris end when her comic book is still showing us a new side to this world and also new characters, all of which make the colorful sci-fi comedy even more colorful.  It is not too late to enjoy Nikki Harris (the daughter of Princess Leia and Wedge Antilles); back issues and a trade paperback are available.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

http://candlelightpress.tumblr.com/
www.nikkithewitch.com
www.warningcomics.com

The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


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I Reads You Juniors June 2017 - Update #30

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Welcome to the I Reads You blog.  It's May 2017.  This post and its updates will offer news and blurb reviews.

From BleedingCool:  More information on "Marvel Legacy" and the "Generations" one-shots.

From GoFundMe:  Veteran comic book writer-artist and WWII veteran, Sam Glanzman, needs the help of his fans and admirers as he goes through hospice.

From BleedingCool:  At this year's San Diego Comic-Con International, IDW will use a multi-media display to showcase 1300 pages of Jack Kirby's artwork.  This year is the 100th anniversary of his birth (August 28, 1917).

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Episode #123 in English.

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Episode #123 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Fandemic Tour is a new brand of comic conventions created by John Macaluso, ex-CEO of Wizard World.

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BLURB REVIEW:

Generation X #1 (Marvel Comics – July 2017) by Christina Strain and Amilcar Pinna with Felipe Sobreiro

Why is Marvel Comics reviving the mid-1990s X-Men title, Generation X (1994 to 2001; 75 issues)?  Well, it's a title/trademark they own, and since they are in the middle of the latest X-Men reboot/revival (called “ResurrXion”), and they need new X-titles, why not?

This new series focuses on a “newer” generation of mutants, with Jubilee being the only original member to belong to this new iteration.  I read the original Generation X for a number of years, mainly because of Chris Bachalo's incredible detailed and textured art.  Current series artist Amilcar Pinna does nothing for me, and writer Christina Strain's script does not inspire me to keep reading.  I am not interested in the characters, and the name, term, or phrase, “Generation X,” simply does not have the power or draw it once did.


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From BleedingCool:  A look at the Marvel "Legacy" covers.

From SideshowToys:  See an older Jack Burton in the upcoming "Big Trouble in Little China" comic book series, "Old Man Jack."

From BleedingCool:  Longtime comic book artist, Rich Buckler, died of cancer in May of this year at the age of 68.  The Marvel Comics' shipping today, June 21st, will have feature a memorial page to him.

From CBB:  Deejay Dayton's "DC Comics History" looks at "Mademmoiselle Marie," from the "Star Spangled War Stories" comic book series.

From CBR:  Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' "The Secret Service" comic book (which became the film, "Kingsman: The Secret Service") has a sequel, which will be written by Rob Williams and drawn by Simon Fraser.

From BleedingCool:  Enrico Marini is creating a Batman graphic novel, exclusively for French publisher, Dargaud.  The book will be published in two volumes - one this year and the second volume next year.

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment is publishing a comic book series that will offer the origins of the character "John Wick" from the popular film franchise.  Greg Pak is writing and Giovanni Valletta.

From CBB:  Johnny Bullet Episode #122 in English
From CBB:  Johnny Bullet Episode #122 in French.

From BusinessWire:  20th Century Fox Film buys a "significant minority stake" in indie comics publisher, BOOM! Studios, according to this press release.

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BLURB REVIEW:

Reborn #6 (Image Comics – June 2017) by Mark Millar and Greg Capullo with Jonathan Glapion

Mark Millar's latest comic book-as-Hollywood pitch, Reborn, ends with a sixth issue.  Meh.  It has it moments, some of them quite evocative, but Reborn seems like something in which the best is yet to come, or at least the actual story is yet to come.  Apparently, there are plans for several more volumes of Reborn.  I liked Greg Capullo's imaginative character and creature designs and sets; in fact, there are three pages of Capullo's concept sketches at the end of this issue.

Also, is it just me or does much of Reborn seem to be inspired by Ridley Scott's ambitious, but troubled fantasy film, Legend (1985)?

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From BleedingCool:  DC Comics may be publishing a series of comic books from horror novelists for Halloween.

From BleedingCool:   IDW Publishing is beginning is new Hasbro crossover event (G.I. Joe, Transformers, Micronauts, Rom, etc.) with "First Strike #0," a free comic book - in print and online.

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BLURB REVIEW:

Jean Grey #1 (Marvel Comics – July 2017) by Dennis Hopeless and Victor Ibanez with Jay David Ramos

I think that this is the first solo Jean Grey comic book title in the 50+ years of X-Men comic books.  Maybe, Marvel had to take its time to get it right, because this Jean Grey comic book is right.  Writer Dennis Hopeless makes Jean Grey's powers seem fun with an imaginative display of tossing villains and juggling objects.  I like Victor Ibanez's interior art, but not as much as I like that of series cover artist, David Yardin.  Still, there is something fresh and sparkling about Ibánez's art, which is enhanced by Jay David Ramos' shimmering colors.  I can't wait to read more, especially because of the teaser the last page offers.

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From CBR:  There might have been a Frank Miller/Bill Sienkiewicz Wonder Woman bondage comic book.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel will ship preview copies of "Legacy #1" to retailers in September.

From ICv2:  Hasbro is throwing its own convention, Hascon, on September 8-10, 2017.  Stan Lee will be a guest.

From TheBeat:  Marvel month-to-month sales chart March 2017 to April 2017.

From CBB:  Leroy reviews "Everyone's Getting Married Vol. 5."

From BleedingCool:  Jimmie Robinson ("Bomb Queen," "The Empty")  talks about not drawing for a year.

From CBB:  Johnny Bullet #120 in English.

From CBB:  Johnny Bullet #120 in French.

From WomenWriteAboutComics:  Yeah, why is Marvel Comics' "Generation X" back?

From BleedingCool:  See Spider-Man's Mary Jane Watson as several Avengers, courtesy of artist J. Scott Campbell.

From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books announces a new anthology, "Now," to be edited by Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds.

From BleedingCool:  There will be more from the world of Mark Millar's comic, "The Secret Service," which became the movie, "Kingsman: The Secret Service."

From BleedingCool:  In "Wildstorm: A Celebration Of 25 Years," fans will see the uncensored versions of Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's "The Authority" #13 to 14.

From ComicBookBin:  Today's lesson in "DC Comics History" is "The Wyoming Kid" (1960 to 1964) by Deejay Dayton.

Review: BLACK #1

BLACK No. 1
BLACKMASK STUDIO

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jamal Igle with Steven Walker
INKS: Jamal Igle; Robin Riggs
TONES: Sarah Stern
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Khary Randolph
VARIANT COVER: Ashley A. Woods
2-Color, $3.99 U.S.

“Chapter One”

Black is a new comic book miniseries created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.  This comic book was introduced to the public as a Kickstarter project seeking to earn $29,999, but ultimately earned almost $100,000.  Black is set in a world where only Black people have super-powers.

Black is written by Osajyefo and is drawn by Jamal Igle (pencils) and Robin Riggs (inks); toned by Sarah Stern; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  Khary Randolph is the cover artist, and Steve Walker assists Igle on the interior art.

Black #1 opens with Officer Ellen Waters of the New York Police Department (NYPD) recounting a shocking incident.  She witnessed three young Black teenagers mistakenly misidentified as three perpetrators of an armed robbery.  They are subsequently shot down in a hail of bullets by White police officers.  Officer Waters witnesses one of the three, Kareem Jenkins, get up from his injuries as if he were never harmed.  What Waters does not realize is that the truth behind Jenkins miraculous survival is even more mind-blowing.

I remember the Kickstarter campaign for Black, and I was impressed by what the team behind it presented to the public.  I was shocked by how successful it was, as it reached its campaign goal in a short time before going on to raise about three times that goal.  Although I was impressed, I forgot about the campaign.  I only remembered after seeing a listing for Black #1 as a new release on the website for comic book distributor, Diamond Distributors.  I was fortunate enough to receive a PDF copy of Black #1 for review.

I have often thought about what it would be like to create a comic book set in a world in which only Black people had super-powers.  I am glad that Kwanza Osajyefo (the former editor of DC Comics' “webcomics” imprint, ZUDA) and Tim Smith 3 (who has worked for Marvel, DC Comics, and Archie Comics, among others) had the gall or the balls to create just such a comic book.

For some readers, the idea of a world in which only Black people have super-powers may be controversial or perhaps, a bridge-too-far, but for nearly three decades, the fictional worlds of American superhero comic books only imagined White men and a few White women with super-powers.  There were even pets and inanimate objects with super-powers before comic book characters of color gained powers.  Black's central conceit alone makes Black #1 a riveting, gripping read.

The other thing that makes this first issue so thrilling, without spoiling it, is that the focus is on the hunt for Kareem Jenkins.  Osajyefo pounds out a script that drags the readers along and makes them think that they are also imperiled.  Jamal Igle's quicksilver compositions visualize the story in lurid detail, especially in the sequence that goes from the explosive hail of bullets to the heart-stopping resurrection-like rise of Kareem.

Black, of course, is timely.  That is both fortunate and unfortunate.  The last decade in the United States has been troubling.  It began with the persecution and prosecution of the Black male teenagers known as the “Jena 6” and continues with the latest killings of unarmed Black males or shootings of Black males in general by law enforcement officials and armed White vigilantes.  Activism concerning justice and equality for African-Americans has exploded, with people of all skin colors and ethnicities joining the activism and protests.  That is fortunate.  It is unfortunate that young Black teenagers have had to die to force a movement that should have not slumbered to awaken again.

Still, out of these dark times, we may have, in Black, one of the few American comic books in a long time that means something important beyond the market and the medium.  Black #1 is not perfect, as some of it (so far) relies on a few tired tropes of superhero and science fiction storytelling.  Still, the first issue of Black is a great start.

A-
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: GOLDEN KAMUY Volume 1

GOLDEN KAMUY, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Satoru Noda
TRANSLATION: Eiji Yasuda
LETTERING: Steve Dutro
EDITOR: Mike Montessa
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9488-0; paperback (June 2017); Rated “M” for “Mature”
192pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Golden Kamuy is a historical drama from manga creator Satoru Noda.  The story follows a war veteran's quest for hidden gold in Japan's wild northern frontier and the native Ainu girl who helps him.

Golden Kamuy, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 7) opens early in 20th century Japan.  Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war, is scrapping out a meager existence during the postwar gold rush on the wild frontier of Hokkaido.  Sugimoto is called “Immortal” because he refused to die during the war and killed anyone who tried to kill him.

Sugimoto will need all his survival skills after he stumbles upon the first “piece” of a map leading to a fortune in hidden gold belonging to the Ainu (an indigenous people of Japan and Russia).  However, ruthless criminals and rogue Japanese soldiers are also hunting for the gold in the harsh northern wilderness.  It will take all Sugimoto's skills and the help of a immensely-skilled Ainu girl named Asirpa to survive, let alone find the gold.

The Golden Kamuy manga simply stuns me.  It is one of the best comics that I have read all year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it make some “best of 2017” lists.

In the seven chapters that compose Golden Kamuy Volume 1, creator Satoru Noda seems to do everything right.  There is tremendous technical details concerning costumes, uniforms, tools, guns and ammunition, etc.  The story deftly mixes elements of both man vs. man and man vs. nature, with a battle against a monstrous brown bear being a standout.  In a way, Golden Kamuy seems like an American frontier Western film or story.

There are scenes of taut action, intimate drama, and tense duels played out between well drawn characters.  The Ainu girl, Asirpa, is not really a supporting character.  She is every bit as interesting as Sugimoto (if not more so).  The adversaries of the series leads are a growing menagerie of mysterious, lethal, and alluring characters.  I can't wait for the second volume.  Fans of Westerns and of Japanese historical dramas will want to try the VIZ Signature title, Golden Kamuy.

A
9.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 28, 2017

DC COMICS

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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 28, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for June 28, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

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Dark Horse Comics from Dimaond Distributors for June 28, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB170084    ART OF PREY HC    $39.99
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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 28, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

FEB170689    AD AFTER DEATH HC    $24.99
APR170737    ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN COMP COLL HC    $54.99
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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 28, 2017

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

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BOOKS
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Review: SEVEN TO ETERNITY #1

SEVEN TO ETERNITY No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was first posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Rick Remender
ARTIST: Jerome Opena
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
COVER: Jerome Opena with Matt Hollingsworth
VARIANT COVER: Tony Moore
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (2016)

Rated M / Mature

Seven to Eternity created by Rick Remender and Jerome Opena

Seven to Eternity is a new fantasy comic book series created by writer Rick Remender and artist Jerome Opena.  Colorist Matt Hollingsworth and letterer Rus Wooton complete the creative team.  The series focuses on a dying knight from a disgraced house who must choose between a desperate bid for freedom or the gifts of an evil God.

Seven to Eternity #1 opens on the world of Zhal.  There, “the God of Whispers” rules with fear over an entire kingdom.  Also known as “the Mud King,” this dark tyrant will give you everything your heart desires – if you listen to what he has to say.  After an attack on his homestead, which leads to the death of a family member, disgraced knight Adam Osidis decides to fight back.  But first, he will do something he knows he should not, hear what the God of Whispers has to say.

First issues, even those by veteran and/or acclaimed creators, can be tricky, especially in the modern era when stories seem more decompressed than ever.  Writers are stingy with character revelations, often offering information as nothing more than a trickle.  Plots plod along, teasing with explosive sequences that don't necessarily speed the story.  Artists offer beautiful panoramas and vistas that are alluring, but also don't necessarily speed-the-plow of the narrative.

Seven to Eternity #1 is different.  Poetic and lyrical exposition and dialogue unites with beautiful art dressed in splendid covers, Seven to Eternity is straight-forward about the hero's dilemmas and the obstacles he faces.  Writer Rick Remender generously reveals his character's bravery as he simultaneously declares his shame.  By the end of the first issue, the reader knows the conflict and those in conflict (for the most part).  Readers are not left hanging.

Jerome Opena tells this story with an expressive sweep that also captures the intimate and gritty details.   His compositions and graphical storytelling make Seven to Eternity #1 a unique debut.  This comic book recalls Michael Moorcock fantasy and the science fiction and fantasy comics of the 1970s and 1980s that appeared in Heavy Metal and Epic magazines and others that were published by Pacific Comics and Star Reach.  However, Seven to Eternity also moves like a Western thriller that ambles to the sounds of Kentucky bluegrass notes.

There is a reason Seven to Eternity #1 is selling quickly.  Imaginative, inventive, and visually alluring, it promises to be like no other fantasy comic book we have seen in a long time.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE No. 9
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Andy Kubert
INKS:  Klaus Janson
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Andy Kubert and Frank Miller with Brad Anderson; Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Greg Capullo; Klaus Janson with Alex Sinclair; Frank Quitely; Mikel Janin; Chip Kidd
40pp (plus 16-page insert), Color, $5.99 U.S. (July 2017)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

A nine-issue comic book publishing event, Dark Knight III: The Master Race (also known as DKIII) is the second sequel to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (also known simply as The Dark Knight Returns or DKR).  DKR is the now-legendary 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries written by Frank Miller and drawn by Miller (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks).  DKR focuses on a 50-year-old Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to resume fighting crime as Batman.

DKIII is written by Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller; drawn by Andy Kubert (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Brad Anderson; and lettered by Clem Robins.  In DKIII, Batman unites with Superman to stop a murderous group of people from Superman's home planet, Krypton, from taking over the Earth.  Meanwhile, Superman's daughter with Wonder Woman, Lara, has joined with the murderous Kryptonians, and Carrie Kelley, the former Robin, begins to evolve into the new Batgirl.

As Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9 opens, the “master race” of Kryptonians from the Bottled City of Kandor and their leader, Quar, prepare to make the Earth unlivable in order to punish humanity for not worshiping them.  Enter Green Lantern and the Atom.  Batman has a surprise for Quar and company, but Superman may have the biggest surprise of all.

If I remember correctly, when it announced that DKIII was being extended to nine issues, DC Comics said there was more story to tell (or something like that).  After reading DKIII #9, I don't know if this is so much “more story” as it is an extended action sequence, all of which could have been wrapped up in a double-sized DKIII #8.

After much criticism and complaining about DKIII (with only scattered praise), I had to admit that I thought that DKIII #8 was not only the best issue of the series, but was also a truly good comic book.  DKIII #7 and #8 moved the narrative forward more powerfully than a locomotive, and #9 is nice finale slash coda coming after those two issues.

I think that DKIII #9 also came into existence to prepare the way for more comics set in the world of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  Rumor has it that DC may have outlines all the way to an eighth miniseries, and I'll probably read them all.  For all the series' unevenness, DKIII #9 has some surprises, like The Atom's pivotal moment and the last page, with its graphic homage to an iconic graphic from DKR.  Plus, I can't resist the eight-page gallery of Adam Kubert and Klaus Janson's art in black and white.  So in the end, I'll recommend Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9.

Dark Knight Universe Presents: Action Comics #1 (Insert comic book)
STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Frank Miller
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Frank Miller and Klaus Janson with Alex Sinclair

I have not really enjoyed these mini-comics inserted into the center of each issue of DKIII, but I did like DKIII #7's“Strange Adventures” and #8's “Detective Comics.”  In “Action Comics #1,” Batman provides a narration as we look in on heroes like Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, and The Atom.  Also, Lara and Carrie Kelley/Batgirl take the next steps in their lives (with Carrie's evolution alluded to at the end of the main story).  “Action Comics #1” is also a nice coda slash prelude to the probable “DKIV” or “DK4.”

B+
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

DC COMICS

APR170266    ALL STAR BATMAN #11    $4.99
APR170267    ALL STAR BATMAN #11 ALBURQUERQUE VAR ED    $4.99
APR170268    ALL STAR BATMAN #11 FIUMARA VAR ED    $4.99
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APR170272    AQUAMAN #25 VAR ED    $3.99
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APR170401    CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #9 (MR)    $3.99
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APR170380    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #29    $3.99
MAR170418    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS TP VOL 04 QUEENS    $19.99
JAN170427    DC DESIGNER SER JOKER BY BRIAN BOLLAND STATUE    $150.00
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MAR170423    DEATH OF HAWKMAN TP    $16.99
JAN170390    DOOM PATROL THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS HC    $99.99
APR170301    GREEN ARROW #25    $3.99
APR170302    GREEN ARROW #25 VAR ED    $3.99
APR170305    GREEN LANTERNS #25    $3.99
APR170306    GREEN LANTERNS #25 VAR ED    $3.99
APR170313    HARLEY QUINN #22    $2.99
APR170314    HARLEY QUINN #22 VAR ED    $2.99
MAR170404    HARLEY QUINN TP VOL 02 JOKER LOVES HARLEY (REBIRTH)    $16.99
APR170382    INJUSTICE 2 #4    $2.99
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APR170363    LOBO ROAD RUNNER SPECIAL #1    $4.99
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APR170398    MAD MAGAZINE #546    $5.99
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APR170367    WONDER WOMAN TASMANIAN DEVIL SPECIAL #1    $4.99
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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

APR171062    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #4    $3.99
APR171028    AMERICA #4    $3.99
FEB179020    ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 POSTCARDS (BUNDLE OF 100)    $5.00
MAR171150    AVENGERS UNLEASHED TP VOL 01 KANG WAR ONE    $17.99
APR170954    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #18 SE    $3.99
APR171031    DAREDEVIL #22    $3.99
APR170950    DOCTOR STRANGE #22 SE    $3.99
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APR170970    PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #1    $4.99
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FEB170899    SILVER SURFER #12    $3.99
MAR171163    SPIDER-GWEN TP VOL 03 LONG-DISTANCE    $15.99
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APR171082    X-MEN GOLD #6    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR170561    COSMIC SCOUNDRELS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR170562    COSMIC SCOUNDRELS #4 (OF 5) SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
FEB170441    DIRK GENTLY SALMON OF DOUBT TP VOL 01    $19.99
MAR170501    GI JOE (2016) #6    $3.99
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APR170578    HIGHLANDER AMERICAN DREAM #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
APR170579    HIGHLANDER AMERICAN DREAM #5 (OF 5) SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
MAR170628    LEANING GIRL TP (IDW ED)    $29.99
FEB170489    LOST PLANET HC    $29.99
APR170529    MICKEY MOUSE #21    $3.99
APR170530    MICKEY MOUSE #21 SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
APR170501    MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #55    $3.99
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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB170022    ALIENS DEFIANCE #12    $3.99
APR170084    ANGEL SEASON 11 #6 MAIN FISCHER CVR    $3.99
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APR170039    BLACK HAMMER #10 MAIN ORMSTON CVR    $3.99
APR170040    BLACK HAMMER #10 VAR LEMIRE    $3.99
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FEB170073    EMPOWERED TP VOL 10    $19.99
FEB170091    HATSUNE MIKU ACUTE TP    $10.99
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JAN170167    WITCHER TP VOL 03 CURSE OF CROWS    $17.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

MAR170740    BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #6 (MR)    $3.99
APR170674    CROSSWIND #1 (MR)    $3.99
MAR178608    CROSSWIND #1 CVR B PRIDE MONTH VAR (MR)    $3.99
APR170785    DESCENDER TP VOL 04 ORBITAL MECHANICS (MR)    $16.99
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APR178670    GRRL SCOUTS MAGIC SOCKS #1 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
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APR170720    SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #1 (OF 5) CVR C SURIANO (MR)    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 21, 2017

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR171434    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #12    $3.99
APR171436    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #12 SUBSCRIPTION LOVAS CVR    $3.99
FEB171314    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS TP VOL 02    $14.99
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MAR171344    ARCHIE 1000 PAGE COMICS HOOPLA TP    $14.99
MAR171875    AT THE MOVIES #1 DISNEY PIRATES CARIBBEAN DEAD MEN TALES    $4.99
APR171309    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #254    $6.99
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APR171761    BIG BAD FOX YR GN    $15.99
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FEB171648    ZANARDI HC    $29.99

MAGAZINES
APR172380    CINEFEX #153    $12.50
APR172381    LOCUS #677    $7.50

BOOKS
APR172266    5 MINUTE SPIDER-MAN STORIES HC    $12.99
APR172265    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-MAN SECRET HC    $10.99
FEB171299    APPLE AND AN ADVENTURE HC    $14.99
MAR172148    BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC    $44.99
APR171958    EVIL DEAD 2 ADULT COLORING ACTIVITY BOOK TP    $14.99
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Manga Review: CIGARETTE GIRL

CIGARETTE GIRL
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

[This review was posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Masahiko Matsumoto
TRANSLATION: Spencer Fancutt with Atsuko Saisho
EDITOR: Sean Michael Wilson
ISBN: 978-1-60309-382-8; 5.25”x 7.25” paperback (May 2016)
264pp, B&W, $24.99 U.S.

Cigarette Girl is a trade paperback collection of manga short stories from the late manga creator, Masahiko Matsumoto (1934 to 2005).  This book contains 11 stories (with some of them broken into chapters) that were published in several Japanese manga magazines over a period from 1972 to 1974.

In these stories, a shared cigarette offers a momentary connection between a salesgirl and a lonely young man, who buys cigarettes simply as an excuse to see the “Cigarette Girl.”  A closet hides the evidence of an embarrassed bachelor's laziness, and his shyness is the thing that keeps this bachelor, Asanuma, a virgin.

Toki sells condoms as a door-to-door salesman, as she tries to be “Happy-Chan.”  A single woman, not getting any younger, sifts through letters from would-be husbands.  And “Naruko Tsurumaki's Love” is his dog, more so than the woman who wants to marry him.

Masahiko Matsumoto was apparently the manga equivalent of a alternative-comics creator.  His simply drawn cartoons and comics have more in common with the leading lights of the American alternative and small press than they do with the highly-polished creations seen in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump.

Matsumoto's stories are blunt and unsentimental at the same time that they are gentle and endearing.  They depict a balance of life that is sweet and sour/pungent, but regardless of what aroma or flavor characters get, they got to keep on going.  It is this matter-of-fact simplicity that makes these stories of modest city-dwellers, determined women, and goofy and selfish men fun to read.

Not all of the stories work; some of are awkward.  “Naruko Tsurumaki's Love” is annoying because everyone in the story is annoying.  “To Somewhere” misses the mark on being spontaneous and romantic.  I am not even sure that it could have ever had the spark that one would expect from a story about a young couple just throwing fate to the wind.  Ultimately, I would say that Cigarette Girl is a collection for readers looking for... let's see... if we can use the term “world music,” then, how about a niche called “world alt-comix?”

This book includes the following text pieces:
--An introduction by Sean Michael Wilson--A foreword by the late Yoshihiro Tatsumi
--Biographical notes written by Mitsuhiro Asakawa

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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