Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 31 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN110009 ANGEL & FAITH #1 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

JAN118123 BPRD TP VOL 11 BLACK GODDESS $17.99

MAY110045 CHIMICHANGA HC $14.99

MAY110039 CREEPY PRESENTS BERNIE WRIGHTSON HC $19.99

APR110040 DRIFTERS VOL 01 (MR) $12.99

APR110039 EDEN TP VOL 13 ITS AN ENDLESS WORLD (MR) $12.99

MAY110040 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 08 $49.99

JUN110019 GOON #35 $3.50

MAY110035 GOON TP VOL 03 HEAPS OF RUINATION 2ND ED $16.99

MAY110043 GREEN RIVER KILLER TRUE DETECTIVE STORY HC $24.99

JUN118153 HELLBOY THE FURY #3 (OF 3) (2ND PTG) $2.99

MAY110050 LAST DRAGON HC $29.99

MAY110038 LET ME IN VOL 01 CROSSROADS TP $14.99

MAY110048 LITTLE LULU PAL TUBBY VOL 04 ATOMIC VIOLIN & OTHER STORIES $15.99

APR118180 OCCULT FILES OF DOCTOR SPEKTOR ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 (PP #973) $49.99

MAY110021 STAR WARS ADV TP CHEWBACCA & SLAVERS O/T SHADOWLAND $7.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 31 2011

IMAGE COMICS

JUN110534 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #6 (MR) $2.99

MAY110507 ELEPHANTMEN #34 (MR) $3.99

JUN110500 EPOCH #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

MAR110584 HAUNT #17 $2.99

FEB110462 INVINCIBLE #82 $2.99

JUN110547 LAST MORTAL #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

APR110519 SAVAGE DRAGON #173 $3.50

JUN110559 SKULLKICKERS #10 $2.99

JUL110548 VAULT #2 (OF 3) $3.50

JUN110502 VESCELL #1 (MR) $2.99

JUN110567 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #35 (MR) $2.99

JUN118173 WITCH DOCTOR #2 (OF 4) VAR CVR 2ND PTG $2.99

MAR110610 WITCHBLADE #147 $3.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for August 31 2011

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
JUL110001 PREVIEWS #276 SEPTEMBER 2011 PI

COMICS
JUN111226 ABC WARRIORS BLACK HOLE GN (S&S ED) $17.99

JUN111168 AIR GEAR GN VOL 19 (MR) $10.99

MAY110913 AMORY WARS IN KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 TP VOL 01 $14.99

MAY110914 AMORY WARS IN KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 TP VOL 02 $14.99

MAY111040 AN EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL LIE GN (MR) $12.95

MAY111196 ANY EMPIRE HC $19.95

JUL110836 ARCHIE HIGH SCHOOL CHRONICLES TP VOL 02 $9.95

JUN111235 ARON WARNERS PARIAH #2 (OF 4) $3.99

OCT100794 ARSENIC LULLABY DEVILS DECADE HC (MR) $49.99

JUN110840 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #217 $3.99

JUN111135 BODYSNATCHERS #3 (OF 6) $2.99

MAY118378 BOKURANO OURS GN VOL 04 $12.99

MAR111015 BONE ONE VOL COLOR ED SGN HC 20TH ANN BOX SET $350.00

APR111093 CAPTAIN ACTION KING SIZE SPECIAL #1 $6.99

JUN110888 CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #6 (OF 6) (RES) (MR) $4.99

JUN110889 CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #6 (OF 6) WRAP CVR (RES) $4.99

MAR111248 CLINT #9 (MR) $6.99

APR111064 CLOCKWORK GIRL (HARPER DESIGN) HC $19.99

MAY111345 CONAN MMPB $7.99

JUN111144 CONCEPTIONS BY LUIS ROYO HC VOL 03 (O/A) (MR) $14.95

JUL110900 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #2 (OF 7) PHILADELPHIA CVR (MR) $5.99

MAY111060 DF KIRBY GENESIS #2 ROSS VIRGIN EXC CVR $19.99

MAY111052 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #5 ADAMS EXC CVR $14.99

MAY111360 DILBERT ACCOMPLISHMENTS SUSP HARD TO VERIFY TP $16.99

APR110863 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP HC VOL 05 (OF 6) $24.99

MAR111318 DOROHEDORO VOL 04 $12.99

JUN111132 ELDRITCH KID WHISKY & HATE (MR) $11.95

JUN110871 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT VIOLET #2 (OF 3) CVR A MHAN $3.50

MAY110893 FAME 50 CENT $3.99

JUL111089 GAHAN WILSON 50 YEARS PLAYBOY CARTOONS HC (NEW PRICE) (MR) $75.00

JUL111088 GHOST WORLD SPECIAL ED HC (NEW PRICE) $25.00

JUN110792 GIRL GENIUS HC VOL 10 AGATHA H & GUARDIAN MUSE $48.95

JUN111136 GORE #4 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99

JUN111121 GRAPHIC CLASSICS GN VOL 21 POE MYSTERY $17.95

APR111213 GRIFF GN $22.99

MAY111290 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #63 $2.99

MAY111291 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #63 $2.99

JUN111315 GRIMM FAIRY TALES ANNUAL 2011 $5.99

APR110870 HELLRAISER #4 (MR) $3.99

APR111212 INSPECTOR GADGET GN VOL 01 GADGET ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS $5.95

JUL111223 INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET GN NEW PTG $24.99

MAY111038 ITAZURA NA KISS GN VOL 06 $16.95

MAY111271 JOHNNY TEST GN VOL 01 ONCE & FUTURE JOHNNY $5.95

MAY111174 JUDGE DREDD RESTRICTED FILES TP VOL 03 $33.00

JUN110845 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #173 $3.99

JAN111142 KATO ORIGINS #11 HELLFIRE CLUB $3.99

JUN110989 KILLING VELAZQUEZ GN (MR) $20.00

JUL111136 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 33 $14.99

JUL111137 KODT JAVA JOINT STRIPS TP $11.99

APR110903 LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK HC VOL 01 (AUG090745) $24.99

MAR111149 MARTIAN CHRONICLES HC $30.00

SEP100800 MINDFIELD #6 COVER A ALEX KONAT $2.99

JUN111174 MONSTER HUNTER ORAGE TP VOL 02 (MR) $10.99

MAY111175 NIKOLAI DANTE HERO O/T REVOLUTION TP $29.00

MAR111197 PHASES O/T MOON #1 DOMINO LADY / SPIDER $2.50

JUN110952 PLANET OF THE APES #5 $1.00

JUN110954 PLANET OF THE APES TP VOL 01 $9.99

MAY111239 RANDOMVEUS HC VOL 01 $29.99

NOV100896 RED SONJA #57 $3.99

APR111062 ROUTE DES MAISONS ROUGES #5 (OF 6) $2.99

MAY111299 SALEMS DAUGHTER HAUNTING #1 A CVR ARTGERM (MR) $2.99

MAY111300 SALEMS DAUGHTER HAUNTING #1 B CVR YANG (MR) $2.99

JUN111176 SAYONARA ZETSUBOU SENSEI GN VOL 10 $10.99

JUN111200 SIXTH GUN #14 $3.99

MAY111039 SKY LINK GN (MR) $12.95

JUN110850 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #228 $2.99

APR110817 SOULFIRE VOL 3 #3 CVR A FABOK $2.99

APR110818 SOULFIRE VOL 3 #3 CVR B RYAN $2.99

JUN110959 STAN LEE TRAVELER #10 $3.99

MAY110812 SUBCULTURE WEBSTRIPS VOL 01 WRATH OF GEEK (MR) $9.95

JUN111131 THE DEEP HERE BE DRAGONS $9.95

JUL110956 THE RINSE #1 $1.00

JUN111133 TORN GN (MR) $12.95

APR111231 VAGABOND VIZBIG ED GN VOL 10 (MR) $19.99

MAY111006 VAMPIRELLA #9 $3.99

MAY110836 VERONICA #208 (VERONICA PRESENTS KEVIN KELLER #2) $2.99

MAY110950 WAR GODDESS #1 (MR) $3.99

MAY110952 WAR GODDESS #1 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

MAY110951 WAR GODDESS #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JUN111014 WARLORD OF MARS FALL OF BARSOOM #2 $3.99

MAY111041 WARNING WHISPERS OF LOVE GN (MR) $12.95

JUN111034 ZORRO RIDES AGAIN #2 $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAY111172 2000 AD PACK JULY 2011 $20.00
APR111128 2000 AD PACK JUNE 2011 $25.00
JUN111396 CINEMA RETRO KELLYS HEROES SPECIAL $11.99
JUN111360 COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUG 2011 $19.95
MAY111337 DR WHO MAGAZINE #437 $8.99
MAY111378 GIRASOL PULP DOUBLES THE SPIDER VOL 20 $14.95
JUL111419 GIRLS AND CORPSES MAGAZINE SUMMER 2011 (MR) $8.95
JUN111410 LOCUS #607 $6.95
MAY111358 SCI FI & FANTASY MODELLER VOL 22 $27.99
MAY111371 SFX SPECIAL #51 TOP 100 SCI FI ICONS $17.99
MAY111382 STAR WARS INSIDER #127 SPECIAL PX ED $7.99
JUN111388 UNDYING MONSTERS MAGAZINE #2 $9.95

Leroy Douresseaux on RAGE #3

RAGE #3 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

SCRIPT: Arvid Nelson
PENCILS: Andrea Mutti
INKS: Pierluigi Baldassini
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Glenn Fabry
32pp, Color, $3.50

“After the Impact” Part 3 of 3

So Rage, Dark Horse’s comic book miniseries based upon RAGE, the upcoming first-person shooter game from id Software, has ended. I enjoyed it, but I was left wanting more post-apocalyptic shoot ‘em up. In some ways, this series is a bit thin.

This comic book series is written by Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) and drawn by Andrea Mutti. Entitled “After the Impact,” it is an original tale set in and an introduction to the world of Rage. I hope this duo returns if there is a second Rage comic book.

Rage takes place on an Earth that was struck by Asteroid 99942 – codename: Apophis – on April 13, 2037. Five billion people died within 24 hours, but a tiny fraction of the population survived the devastation by living in “burrowing cryo arks.” They emerged to find Earth a wasteland controlled by a global military dictatorship called the Authority. It is 2095 when scientist Dr. Elizabeth Cadence is revived. The Authority brings her to a research facility in a vast necropolis where she hopes to discover the full extent of the Authority’s deceptions.

As Rage #3 opens, Elizabeth has learned the Authority’s dirty secrets: that they murdered her husband and son and that they are responsible for the creation of the rampaging mutants. With her old colleague, Dr. Antonin Kvasir at her side, Elizabeth prepares for her final showdown with brutal Authority officer, Colonel James Casey.

If Rage the game is as fun to read as Rage the comic book, gamers will be quite satisfied. Writer Arvid Nelson’s tight script and Andrea Mutti perfect-match art should get them a second chance at returning us to the world of Rage. Overall, this is good military and monsters science fiction, although I wish there were more to this in terms of the length of the narrative.

I’m not into video games, but I enjoyed reading this video game adaptation in a way I never do when it comes to video game comic books. Are there any other good ones out there?

B+

Leroy Douresseaux on AMERICAN GODS: THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

AMERICAN GODS: THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
WILLIAM MORROW

AUTHOR: Neil Gaiman
ISBN: 978-0-06-205988-8; hardcover
560pp, B&W, $26.99 U.S.

American Gods is a 2001 fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman (author of The Sandman comic book series). In 2002, the book won several “Best Novel” awards from organizations that honor fantasy fiction, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Awards. The novel centers on a taciturn and mysterious protagonist caught in a struggle between the gods of the old world and the new gods of America.

In celebration of the novel’s tenth anniversary, William Morrow, publisher of the first edition, recently published American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (Author’s Preferred Text). This edition contains an additional 12,000 words and is the first time that this version of the text has been made widely available. Gaiman also provides an introduction to this edition in which he explains the origins and development of the novel.

The premise of American Gods is that gods, mythological beings, spirits, and figures of legend, folklore, and fairy tales exist because people believe in them. Through their beliefs, immigrants brought these gods and beings from the Old World to the new world of America. Over time, the immigrants’ descendants either forgot the gods or their belief in their ancestors’ gods waned. Now, out of America’s obsession with media, celebrity, technology, and even drugs (among other things) sprang new gods.

The story centers on an enigmatic figure named Shadow, who has just been released from prison after serving three years. He can’t wait to get back to his wife, Laura Moon, but tragedy strikes. With nothing left to which he can return, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A charming rogue who can get ladies in bed with ease and a trickster extraordinaire, Wednesday seems to know a lot about Shadow, the man who becomes his bodyguard, driver, and general errand boy. Wednesday takes Shadow on a long, strange trip across America, as Wednesday attempts to recruit some of the old gods to his cause. But only Shadow can uncover the whole story about “the Storm,” the war between the gods.

As much as I enjoyed American Gods (and I sooooo enjoyed it), I don’t believe that I have fully grasped its meaning, but I have some idea on that. It is an epic fantasy and a road novel. It is steeped in Americana, but also in folklore and folktales. It is part suspense thriller that dabbles in conspiracy. A side of it is a small town murder mystery complete with eccentric characters; that includes a good-natured and lonely chief of police who is horny enough to plot having sex with a female cousin.

It is a bit of everything and is all over the place, but that makes me wonder if this novel was Neil Gaiman’s attempt at the great American novel. People think of the United States as a melting pot, in which people from different nationalities, backgrounds, and cultures blend into a new ethnic group, the American. In reality, however, some people just don’t “melt” very well, and it is obvious that they can never physically look like what many consider to be an American – a white person. America may be a melting pot, but it is equally a mosaic, a nation made of different pieces that have broken off from old world cultures and other nationalities. [Some would argue that the United States Constitution is the only thing that unites us.]

American Gods is a mosaic novel made from pieces broken off other stories, or maybe it is a melting pot of different kinds of fiction – the American novel for a melting pot/mosaic nation. Gaiman reconciles the melting pot and mosaic of America by bringing them together and recognizing that American culture is about the tension between old and new. It may be a jumble, but they can live side by side. All that we need recognize is the forces that would tear us apart and use our strife to benefit themselves. We can be different and even not united, but all be American.

Frankly, I did find a few sections of this novel to be dry and even dull, but the further you go into the novel, the tighter its hold on you. Gaiman fills American Gods with inventive scenarios, imaginative characters, and ingenious concepts, although the new American gods are mostly flat and vague characters. Still, it feels like this novel reinvigorated the fantasy genre, making fantastic literature that is not about escapism. American Gods speaks of the soul of this country by delving into the dreams and the beliefs of the people and the supernatural that call this great land home.

A-

 

Leroy Douresseaux on THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN

AUTHOR: Neil Gaiman
ILLUSTRATIONS: Dave McKean
ISBN: 978-0-06-053092-1; hardcover
312pp, B&W, $17.99 U.S., $19.50 CAN

The Graveyard Book is a 2008 children’s fantasy novel from author Neil Gaiman. It won the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the 2009 Newberry Medal.

The Graveyard Book chronicles the adventures of a boy, Nobody Owens (“Bod” for short) who would be completely normal, except for the fact that he lives in an old cemetery and is being reared by the ghosts of a couple that died centuries ago. There are dangers and adventures aplenty. The Indigo Man and the Sleer stir deep beneath a hill in the cemetery, and one grave is a gateway to a world of hungry ghouls. There are things for Bod to learn – how to fade and be invisible to humans. But if Bod leaves the safety of the graveyard, Jack, who brutally murdered Bod’s family when the boy was a toddler, will kill him, too.

Chronicling Nobody Owens’ youth, from the time he was a toddler to his 15th birthday, The Graveyard Book is a riff on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, but here a boy is raised by ghosts, instead of by animals as in Kipling’s classic. Gaiman tells Nobody Owens’ story through eight short stories that act as chapters; a few years of Bod’s life elapse between stories.

As with all of his work, Gaiman displays much imagination in his storytelling, and he’s always an engaging storyteller, although here, he seems a bit stiff at times. The Graveyard Book is a fun read, and the last two chapters skirt the razor’s edge of suspense and supernatural thrills. Early sections of The Graveyard Book, however, are a bit limp. The book’s opening comes across as pretentious, elegant writing, and the early chapters sometimes seem too mannered, with Gaiman writing as if he were an athlete “playing tight” in big game.

It’s the other half of the stories that are riveting, fun, and exhibit Gaiman’s gift for taking his readers’ imaginations on flights of fancy, deep into the macabre. When he crashes the real world of his characters into those dark, magical places that seem to hang on the edges of reality, (such as the chapter “Nobody Owens’ School Days”) The Graveyard Book hits its stride, and Gaiman seems closer to famed horror writer Clive Barker than he is to some generic writer of drippy, faux-Victorian fairy tales.

B+

Nura vs. The 88 Demons of Shikoku

I read Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 4

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

Leroy Douresseaux on WANDERING SON Volume 1

WANDERING SON, VOL. 1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CARTOONIST: Shimura Takako
TRANSLATION: Matt Thorn
LETTERS: Paul Baresh, Ian Burns, and Priscilla Miller
ISBN: 978-1-60699-416-0; hardcover
208pp, B&W with some color, $19.99 U.S.

Fantagraphics Books is back in the manga-publishing game, but their new series does not feature boy heroes, aliens, monsters, robots, magic, super powers, or even love-starved teen girls.

Wandering Son is a manga from creator Shimura Takako that began serialization in 2002 in the manga magazine, Comic Beam. Fantagraphics Books recently began publishing English-language graphic novel editions of the series. Wandering Son follows fifth grader Shuichi Nitori, a boy who wants to be a girl, and his friend Yoshino Takatsuki, a girl who wants to be a boy.

Wandering Son Volume 1 introduces the two protagonists and their friends and family whose lives intersect with their own. Nitori is the new student in school and makes his first friend, Takatsuki. They bond over a dress that Takatsuki doesn’t want and gives to Nitori’s sister, Maho. Nitori wonders what he would look like in a dress, and soon his female classmates are encouraging him to wear them. Meanwhile, Takatsuki is exploring life as a boy by passing for a boy. When the fifth-graders put on a production of The Rose of Versailles for the farewell ceremony for the sixth graders, the play’s gender-bending brings gender issues out in the open.

Ostensibly a seinen manga (comic book for adult males), Wandering Son begins with characters that are preteens or preadolescents and is appropriate for readers of that demographic (although I say this as someone who isn’t a parent). I assume parents and guardians freaked out about any discussion or visual fiction depiction of issues relating to gender identity, puberty, and transsexuality would consider Wandering Son inappropriate for their preteens.

However, Shimura Takako tells this story in such a gentle, unobtrusive way, one might believe that this story flows naturally – as if it simply spun itself from nature and is the way it is supposed to be. I think Matt Thorn’s tidy translation, which goes down the mental gullet with such smoothness, is a big reason for how readable this is. Wandering Son is not flashy or aggressive, nor does it pander or try to be hip and stylish. Takako draws the reader in so quietly that some may be surprised to find themselves on a journey of discovery and exploration with these characters. It’s like seeing preadolescence for the first time or seeing it again through fresh eyes and a new perspective.

Takako’s simple approach to compositions and graphical storytelling entails sparse backgrounds and a cartoony method of figure drawing. The figures are striking in their simplicity, and their emotions and actions in the story are crystal clear. If only more comic books were so evocative and so clear in their storytelling like Wandering Son, an ideal comic book. Ages 8 to 80 will like Wandering Son.

A

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

Leroy Douresseaux on HELLBOY: THE FURY #3

HELLBOY: THE FURY #3 OF 3 (SERIES #57)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola
ART: Duncan Fegredo
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
32pp, Color, $2.99

It’s a killer ending in a killer series that sees Hellboy’s killing! Say what?!

Hellboy: The Fury #3 is about endings. This issue sees an end to the collaboration of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Duncan Fegredo, which yielded the Hellboy story arcs Darkness Calls (2008), The Wild Hunt (2008-2009), and The Storm (2010). This issue brings an end to Hellboy’s battle with Nimue the Queen of Witches, which pitted the hoary hosts of monsters against the ghostly knights of England, led by a World War I vet who lived long enough to be King of England for a day.

The big ending in this third and final issue of Hellboy: The Fury is [SPOILER that many readers already know] that Hellboy is killed.

Imagine the battle between Hellboy and Ogdru Jahad in the last act of the 2004 Hellboy movie turned into page after page of beautiful comic book art and still capturing the fluid CGI movement and action of the film. That’s Hellboy: The Fury – Ragna Rok ‘n’ roll, y’all!

In The Fury, Fegredo draws giant battles that are as good as anything drawn for Marvel and DC Comics big event series, from Crisis on Infinite Earths to now. So much of this story’s power is told through the art. Mignola relies on Fegredo’s art (which recalls both Mignola and Jack Kirby) and graphics to convey the drama and setting, while using relatively little dialogue or even captions. In that way, this story is both quite and thunderous – the perfect balance for a visual epic fantasy. The masterful coloring of Dave Stewart makes it all even more beautiful.

A

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

DC COMICS

JUN110204 ACTION COMICS #904 (DOOMSDAY) $2.99

JAN110456 AME COMI BIG BARDA PVC FIGURE $70.00

JAN110455 AME COMI WONDER WOMAN V.3 PVC FIGURE $70.00

JUN110342 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #18 (MR) $2.99

JUN110231 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY #5 (OF 5) $2.99

JUN110229 BATMAN GATES OF GOTHAM #5 (OF 5) $2.99

APR110150 BATMAN INCORPORATED #8 $2.99

JUN118125 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1 2ND PTG $3.99

JUN110221 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #5 (RES) $2.99

JUN110222 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #5 VAR ED (RES) $2.99

MAY110241 BATMAN UNDER THE RED HOOD TP $29.99

JAN110449 BLUE LANTERN 1/4 SCALE POWER BATTERY & RING PROP $35.00

JUN110198 BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110333 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #63 $2.99

JUN110263 DC COMICS PRESENTS JLA HEAVENS LADDER #1 $7.99

JUN110215 DC RETROACTIVE GREEN LANTERN THE 90S #1 $4.99

JUN110207 DC RETROACTIVE JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA THE 90S #1 $4.99

JUN110211 DC RETROACTIVE SUPERMAN THE 90S #1 $4.99

APR110201 DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES HC $34.99

JUN110337 DRIVER CROSSING THE LINE #1 (RES) $2.99

JUN110197 FLASHPOINT HAL JORDAN #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110195 FLASHPOINT KID FLASH LOST #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110193 FLASHPOINT LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110196 FLASHPOINT PROJECT SUPERMAN #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110339 GEARS OF WAR #19 (MR) $2.99

JUN110235 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #26 $2.99

JUN110252 GREEN ARROW #15 $2.99

JUN110172 GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #13 $2.99

MAR110262 GREEN LANTERN MOVIE PREQUEL SINESTRO #1 $2.99

OCT100346 HARLEY QUINN 1/4 SCALE STATUE $325.00

JAN110448 HEROES OF THE DCU BLACKEST NIGHT SAINT WALKER BUST $70.00

JUN110354 HOW TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL IN 60 DAYS OR LESS TP (MR) $19.99

JUN110335 INSANELY AWESOME MAD TP $12.99

JUN110253 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #54 $2.99

JUN110336 MAD MAGAZINE #511 $5.99

JUN110350 NORTHLANDERS #43 (MR) $2.99

MAY110249 SUPERGIRL BIZARROGIRL TP $19.99

JUN110237 SUPERMAN BEYOND #0 $3.99

DEC100330 SUPERMAN FAMILY MULTI PART STATUE PART 2 $195.00

MAY110253 TEAM UPS OF THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD TP $17.99

JUN110258 TEEN TITANS #100 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

JUN110245 WONDER WOMAN #614 $2.99

MAY110279 WORLD OF WARCRAFT TP VOL 04 $14.99

JUN110261 XOMBI #6 $2.99

JUN110331 YOUNG JUSTICE #7 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

MARVEL COMICS

JUN110683 ASTONISHING X-MEN #41 $3.99

JUN110635 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #621 $2.99

JUN110735 CAPTAIN AMERICA PRISONER OF WAR PREM HC $24.99

JUN110729 CARNAGE HC FAMILY FEUD $24.99

JUN110695 DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #13 $2.99

JUN110705 DEADPOOL #42 $2.99

JUN110666 DISNEY PIXAR PRESENTS INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS $5.99

JUN110592 FEAR ITSELF YOUTH IN REVOLT #4 (OF 6) FEAR $2.99

JUN110670 FF #8 $2.99

JUN110739 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 01 ACUNA DM VAR ED $19.99

JUN110738 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 01 EPTING VAR $19.99

JUN110647 IRON AGE OMEGA #1 $2.99

DEC100635 KICK-ASS 2 #3 (MR) $2.99

MAR110749 MMW ATLAS ERA VENUS HC VOL 01 $59.99

MAR110750 MMW ATLAS ERA VENUS HC VOL 01 DM VAR ED 164 $59.99

JUN110724 MMW SUB-MARINER TP VOL 01 $24.99

JUN110725 MMW SUB-MARINER TP VOL 01 DM VAR ED 32 $24.99

JUN110676 MYSTERY MEN #4 (OF 5) $2.99

JUN110610 NEW MUTANTS #30 FEAR $2.99

JUN110661 PUNISHER #2 $2.99

JUN110758 SHADOWLAND STREET HEROES TP $19.99

JUN110759 SHADOWLAND THUNDERBOLTS TP $15.99

JUN110757 SHADOWLAND TP $19.99

JUN110753 SILVER SURFER TP DEVOLUTION $14.99

JUN110668 SPIDER-MAN #17 $2.99

JUN110630 SPIDER-MAN EMERGENCE EVIL JACKAL AND HOBGOBLIN #1 SPI $4.99

JUN110754 SPIDER-MAN NEXT CHAPTER TP VOL 01 $39.99

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

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JUN110393 TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #24 $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR110064 BLACKJACKED & PISTOL WHIPPED CRIME DOES NOT PAY PRIMER $19.99

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

IMAGE COMICS

JUN110530 AVENGELYNE #2 CVR A LIEFELD $2.99

JUN110531 AVENGELYNE #2 CVR B GIENI $2.99

MAR110575 CHEW #20 (MR) $2.99

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APR110516 NETHERWORLD #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

JUN110566 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #34 (MR) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for August 24 2011

COMICS

JUN110836 ARCHIE #624 $2.99

JUN110838 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #8 $3.99

OCT100795 ARSENIC LULLABY DEVILS DECADE TP (MR) $29.99

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JUN110922 BART SIMPSON COMICS #62 $2.99

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JUN110846 KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA ARCHIVES TP VOL 01 $9.95

JUL110977 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #4 SUNK CVR (MR) $9.99

JAN111059 LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK HC VOL 01 (AUG090745) $24.99

MAR111165 LIONS TIGERS & BEARS TP VOL 03 $12.99

JUN111256 LOOSE ENDS #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

MAY111096 MEDITERRANEA #5 (OF 14) $2.99

FEB111067 MILTON CANIFF MALE CALL HC $39.99

APR110748 MISS MASQUE STRIKES BACK #1 $19.95

APR111149 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 20 MILLION DOLLAR GAME $19.95

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APR111155 OKIE DOKIE DONUTS OPEN FOR BUSINESS HC $9.95

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APR111165 PIRATE PENGUIN VS NINJA CHICKEN HC VOL 01 $9.95

FEB110973 QUEEN SONJA #19 $3.99

MAY111097 SKELETON STORY #5 (OF 5) $2.99

JUN111202 SPONTANEOUS #3 $3.99

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APR111207 STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS ULTIMATE EDITION TP $59.99

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JUL110967 WORDGIRL COALITION OF MALICE ONE SHOT $7.99

MAY111042 YELLOW II GN VOL 03 (OF 3) EPISODE 3 (RES) (MR) $6.95

MAGAZINES
APR111280 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #153 BALDER THE BRAVE $14.00
MAY111323 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG SPECIAL SAURON $24.00
MAY111328 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1681 SEP 2011 $5.99
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JUN111424 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #36 NEWSSTAND ED $6.99
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APR111275 TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #198-199 DOUBLE ISSUE $5.99
MAY112000 WHITE DWARF #379 PI

Sakura Hime and the Prince

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 3

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

Leroy Douresseaux on DARK RAIN: A NEW ORLEANS STORY (OGN)

DARK RAIN: A NEW ORLEANS STORY
DC COMICS/VERTIGO

WRITER: Mat Johnson
ARTIST: Simon Gane
COLORS/GREY TONES: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
COVER: Simon Gane, Daymon Gardner, Nessim Higson
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2161-4; paperback
160pp, 2-Color, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN

Three years after DC Comics/Vertigo published his graphic novel, Incognegro, I was wondering if and hoping that author Mat Johnson would return to comic books. He has. It’s with a wonderful new graphic novel, Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story.

Mat Johnson is an award-winning author who has drawn acclaim for his books, such as the novel, Hunting in Harlem, and the non-fiction, The Great Negro Plot. He has also written for DC Comic’s Vertigo imprint. He wrote the 2005 graphic novel, Hellblazer: Papa Midnite, (originally published as a miniseries) and the aforementioned, Incognegro (2008), which I consider to be one of the great comics work of the first decade of this new century.

His latest graphic novel is Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story, which has simultaneously been released in hardcover and paperback editions. Drawn by Simon Gane with colors and gray tones by Lee Loughridge, Dark Rain is largely set in New Orleans and takes place in 2005 during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The story focuses on two small-time ex-cons, the kind of guys who do prison time for one stupid mistake, and they’re both in need of cash. Dabney Arceneaux is an African-American combat veteran who can’t get a business loan and is behind on child support to an obnoxious ex-wife. Emmit Jack is a Cajun who just wants to get paid.

It is Emmit who gets a message from back home in New Orleans that his old employer, the Banque de Congo Square, is under duress and ripe for the picking, thanks to Hurricane Katrina’s strike against New Orleans. Jack convinces Dabney to help him get back to New Orleans for a bank robber payday. However, an old military acquaintance of Dabney’s, one Colonel Driggs, the head of the ruthless private security force, “Dark Rain,” also has his eyes on the Banque de Congo Square prize. All three men will find that the Big Easy is going to change their lives – whether they like it or not.

Back during those last three days of August 2005, the television media showed lots of images from inside New Orleans, as the city’s social structure and infrastructure cracked and, in many cases, fell apart. Some of the media showed images of citizens stranded on rooftops and trapped in and around the New Orleans Superdome. Other media realized how photogenic and newsworthy African-Americans are when we are in a state of agitation and keenly focused on what they called incidents of looting. That makes great television and draws ratings from those who need almost daily affirmation of what bad eggs colored folk are. And media like FOX News gave those people all the video footage of looting they could stand and more.

What only a few media outlets reported on were members of the Gretna Police Department shooting at Black people as those “refugees” tried to cross the bridge (the Crescent City Connection) to safety and leave New Orleans. You probably never heard that men from the white enclave, Algiers Point, formed vigilante groups and hunted black men “like pheasant” (their words), killing an unknown number (perhaps as many as 18). Of course, you didn’t.

Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story doesn’t cover all the uncovered news, but what Mat Johnson does is scratch well-beneath the surface of what you’ve heard about the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s strike on New Orleans. What’s amazing is how Johnson dramatizes some of real life events of Katrina and folds them into a riveting and unusual take on the crime thriller. The characters involved, the plans for the heist, the pacing of the story, the starts and stops on the way to Congo Square: these elements make such a crazy rhythm for this story. It is, however, a rhythm the keeps you tied to the grand scheme of Dark Rain, the main plotline, which is seeing who gets the cash.

In the same narrative in which he is spinning this highly-original take on the bank robbery tale, Johnson is telling a very human drama full of full of hope and even humor. The characters have true grit, fully on display as they are determined to overcome rank greed and bullying racism. At the same, their shortcomings and sins make them perfect foils for a reality that doesn’t give them their way. Dark Rain makes me call Mat Johnson brilliant, and although he has only written three graphic novels to this point, he is already one of the best writers in comics.

I don’t want to speak of artist Simon Gane as if his part is something wholly separate from Johnson’s. Gane’s graphical storytelling makes it seem like Dark Rain was born as a comic book without being a script and pages of art first. Gane captures the nuances of Johnson’s story, but the fact that this British artist can capture institutional racism and blatant bigotry that is as American as American can be is impressive. Gane juxtaposes the light and the dark, and his compositions ably convey the humor Johnson often places in this story at the most unexpected moments.

Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story would fit as a Vertigo Crime novel because of the bank robbery, but it is Fantagraphics/Pantheon in its social/character drama/satirical side. Dark Rain may be a comic book, but it should take a place of importance among the stories that chronicle New Orleans’ visit from Hurricane Katrina.

A

Leroy Douresseaux on INCOGNEGRO - A Graphic Novel Review

INCOGNEGRO - OGN
DC COMICS/VERTIGO

WRITER: Mat Johnson
ARTIST: Warren Pleece
ISBN: 978-1-4012-1097-7; hardcover
136pp, B&W, $23.99 U.S.

[I wrote this review over three years ago. Since then, I’ve come to believe that Incognegro is one of the best comic books of 2001-2010, the first decade of this new century, along with comics like The Original Johnson, Nat Turner, Louis Riel, and Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit.]

Award-winning author Mat Johnson has drawn acclaim for his books, including the novel, Hunting in Harlem and the non-fiction work, The Great Negro Plot. His entry into comic books was the six-issue miniseries, Hellblazer: Papa Midnite (now a trade paperback), published to coincide with the 2005 Hellblazer comic-to-film, Constantine.

Vertigo, the DC Comics imprint, released Johnson’s second comics project this past February as their offering for “Black History Month.” This Black History graphic novel, entitled Incognegro, is an absolutely terrific graphic work of detective fiction. Just to get this out of the way: the art by Warren Pleece doesn’t reach Johnson’s heights. The black and white composition is inconsistent from one page to the next, and the juxtaposition of dark and light and warm and cool space is erratic. This is peculiar considering that Pleece is a seasoned and respected professional.

Set in the 1930’s, Incognegro has as its heart, Zane Pinchback, a Harlem, NYC-based reporter for the New Holland Herald. Although Zane is a Negro, his skin complexion is so light that he can pass for a White man. In fact, he does. Zane occasionally leaves the relative safety of Harlem and heads to the Deep South where he infiltrates the local White populace – going “incognegro.” This colored version of going incognito allows him to take pictures of the lynching of black men (portrayed here as a civic event like a county fair or church picnic, which was often true in real life), as well as learn the names of the respectable folks attending these ghastly, all-too-human events.

The novel opens with a lynching, during which Zane’s cover is blown. After barely escaping with his life, Zane returns to Harlem and demands a new and safer job from his boss at the Herald. The boss wants one more column written by the mysterious “Incognegro,” and he’s sure Zane will be interested in covering this next case. It’s in Tupelo, Mississippi, where Zane’s estranged brother, Alonzo “Pinchy” Pinchback, is scheduled to hang for the murder of a white woman.

Zane races to Tupelo, once again passing as a White man, but this time, his aimless friend, Carl, a light-skinned Negro who can also pass, is coming along in hopes of learning how Zane does it, so he can take over when Zane quits being “Incognegro.” In Tupelo, however, Zane and Carl discover that this murder is set in a place where a Black person’s life is always in mortal danger. A labyrinthine mystery, with a huge cast of shady, inbred crackers, confronts Zane, and to make matters worse, someone quite deadly has arrived in Tupelo right behind Zane. This new arrival is no stranger to the famous/infamous newspaper columnist, “Incognegro,” and he plans on putting an end to the faux-White man.

As a murder mystery, Incognegro is just as good as any crime/detective comic book series or graphic novel published by an American comic book company. Stylistically, in terms of setting, plot, mood, atmosphere, and to a certain extent in the way the characters behave, Incognegro has the flavor of the work of brilliant African-American writer and mystery novelist, Walter Mosley (in fact, a quote from Mosley is on the front of Incognegro’s dust jacket). This is a riveting tale of a man in mortal danger, doggedly determined to find out who the real culprit is before his brother is lynched. What adds to the drama and conflict is that all of Zane’s efforts, regardless of if he solves the case or not, may earn him a rope around his neck.

If Incognegro makes a great statement about that misnomer “Race,” it’s that a person, who can be identified as “Black” or “Negro,” even if he has a light complexion or skin color, will face the same horrors of prejudice and racism as a man who obviously looks “Black.” It’s a matter of status as much as it is birth. People like to believe that there is always someone beneath them. Perhaps, it is a group of people that they believe they are better than and always will be better than. In the time in which Incognegro is set, dirt poor ignorant white trash has something in common with respectable white people – as white people they were better than niggers.

Someone born a nigger being able to pass for White must have terrified White people (and probably still does for some). If it’s so easy to stop being a Black man and become a White man, then, being White may not really have as much value as Whites believed. Still, in the context of this book, being Black meant a mob of White devils could, on a whim, decide to murder you – as the villain learns in the end.

Congratulations to Mat Johnson for presenting a graphic novel that is as riveting as it is ingenious. Incognegro is a thoughtful mystery tale and a nasty reminder of the kind of violence and hate that has left a lasting wound on our beautiful nation.

A+

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

Philip Schweier on Biracial Ultimate Spider-Man and Black Perry White

Philip Schweier is a long-time writer for the Comic Book Bin, penning the column "Phil's Bubble" on a regular basis. Schweier also writes about comic book history and pop culture.  His latest installment of Phil's Bubble is "Losing the Race" in which he discusses changing the skin color of  comic book characters.  He writes:

In some instances, race is germaine to a character’s personality; Luke Cage, for instance. But for the most part, race, in a fictional context, should not be an issue. These are make-believe characters who do not exist in the real world.

Schweier uses the recent announcement that Laurence Fishburne will play Perry White in the Superman film franchise reboot, The Man of Steel (2013) and Marvel's new Black and Latino Spider-Man in the publisher's Ultimate Spider-Man comic book series.

______________________________

I've noticed that the change in a character's gender, ethnicity, or skin color is most controversial with comic book fans when the change is from White character to Black.  I think this has less to do with the conservatism of comic book fans, who are often notoriously against change, and more to do with the straight-up racism of some of them.

I think that is reflective of the industry in general.  DC Comics is relaunching and launching 52 different comic book titles from the end of August through September.  None of those series has an African-American writer, including the three series that will star Black characters.

Marvel is the same.  President Barack Obama has made several appearances in various Marvel comic books, but there are currently no African-American writers working on an ongoing series for Marvel.  Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King are often brought up when discussing the X-Men, yet in 50 years of publication, the African character, Storm, is the only regular character of color in the X-Men.  There have been a smattering of others here and there, but it's been pitiful.

I Reads You Review: HELLBOY: THE FURY #1

HELLBOY: THE FURY #1 OF 3 (Series #55)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola
ART: Duncan Fegredo
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart (Alternate cover by Francesco Francavilla)
32pp, Color, $2.99

I read the second issue of the new three-issue Hellboy miniseries, Hellboy: The Fury, before I read the first. Since then, Dark Horse Comics provided PDF copies of all three issues. I enjoyed the second issue a lot, but was somewhat lost. Now, after reading the first issue, the story all makes sense, and the storyline pleases me even more than the first time I read it.

Hellboy: The Fury is the conclusion the union of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo, the Hellboy artist for the past few years. The Fury also brings an end to the story arc that began in Hellboy: Darkness Calls (2008) and continued in The Wild Hunt (2008-2009) and The Storm (2010).

In Hellboy: The Fury #1, Hellboy takes on Nimue, the Queen of Witches, who now calls herself Badhbh Macha Mor-Rioghain, the Goddess of War. Meanwhile, Alice Monaghan, Hellboy’s new lady friend, learns the story of George Washbrook, a World War I vet about to play a pivotal and fantastic role in the war between Nimue and her forces and Hellboy, who by the way is a descendant of King Arthur and is therefore the King of Britain.

I had fun reading this. It’s been years since I read a Hellboy series (about 9 years in fact). The mixture of Mignola’s moody, imaginative storytelling and Duncan Fegredo sterling graphics and pictures creates an arcane fantasy epic full of Kirbyesque crackling energy and out of this world creatures and beings. The special effects and CGI wizards of 21st century cinema could not surpass the visions here. Hellboy: The Fury is, right out of the gate, a wild ride and I want on this ride.

A

"The Art of Vampire Knight" Coming in September

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT

New Hardcover Edition Features Captivating Artwork From The Bestselling Manga Series By Matsuri Hino

VIZ Media invites fans to savor the lavish, gothic-inspired illustrations of manga (graphic novel) creator Matsuri Hino in THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT, scheduled for release on September 6th. The new hardcover edition will carry an MSRP of $24.99 U.S./$28.99 CAN.

THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT is an ideal companion to the bestselling manga series, and contains your favorite images in color plus never-before-seen artwork in the United States. The new book features an extensive character gallery with author comments, a how-to tutorial, and an exclusive full-color VAMPIRE KNIGHT poster.

Cross over into this mysterious and dangerous world of vampires with the lush artwork of Matsuri Hino. VAMPIRE KNIGHT takes readers to Cross Academy, which is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorms, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

VAMPIRE KNIGHT (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) was created by Matsuri Hino, who burst onto the manga scene with her debut title, When This Dream Is Over, in LaLa DX magazine. With the success of subsequent series such as CAPTIVE HEARTS and MERU PURI (both published in the U.S. by VIZ Media), Hino has established herself as a major force in the world of shojo manga. VAMPIRE KNIGHT is currently serialized in LaLa magazine. VIZ Media also offers the VAMPIRE KNIGHT anime series on DVD and episodes are available online through its innovative video streaming web destination at VIZAnime.com.

For more information on the VAMPIRE KNIGHT manga and to read free manga previews online, please visit http://www.shojobeat.com/.

Itsuwaribito: The Boss's True Identity

I read Itsuwaribito , Vol. 3

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

Finder: Body Chase, Unobtainable, DNA in Love

I read Finder Volume 2: Cage in the View Finder (Yaoi)

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

Leroy Douresseaux on DAMAGED #1

DAMAGED #1 (OF 6)
RADICAL PUBLISHING

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sam Worthington
CREATORS: Michael Schwarz and John Schwarz
WRITER: David Lapham
ARTIST: Leonardo Manco
COLORS: Kinsun Loh, Jerry Choo, Sansan Saw
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: Alex Maleev
ALTERNATE COVERS: Leonardo Manco with Kinsun Loh (Cover B) and Leonardo Manco (Incentive Cover)
32pp, Color, $3.99

Actor Sam Worthington, whose career exploded a few years ago after appearing in Terminator: Salvation and Avatar, is now in the comic book game. Worthington and his friends, Michael Schwarz and John Schwarz, have formed a graphic novel and intellectual property company called Full Clip Productions.

Michael and John have created the venture’s first comic book, Damaged. This crime comic book from Radical Publishing is written by David Lapham (Stray Bullets) and drawn by Leonardo Manco (Driver for the Dead). Damaged focuses on two brothers committed to justice in different ways. One is a commander with the San Francisco Police Department and works inside the law. The other is a vigilante who works violently beyond it.

In Damaged #1, Captain Frank Lincoln is three weeks from retirement, and the powers that be in San Fran have already appointed his successor as head of the Special Task Force on Organized Crime, a youngster named Lt. Jack Cassidy. A massacre at the home of Dimitri Oloaf, the most powerful man in the Russian mafiya, brings Lincoln and Cassidy together. Frank immediately recognizes that the crime scene relates to his past, and now he has to clean up the past without Cassidy or the rest of the SFPD finding out.

I am annoyed that Damaged seems to be in part a non-Marvel Punisher comic book. Half of the comic book is literally a police drama and the other half is The Punisher, complete with a grizzled veteran cop (the drama) and a scarred, rampaging maniac slash one-man army (The Punisher).

But I like this. I think the story’s strength will lie in a kind of love/hate triangle. There is Frank trying to fend off his by-the-book successor, Jack. Frank will also have to deal with Henry, which will be a hot mess. Henry will likely have to take on the SFPD, especially Jack. Hopefully, it turns out that way, because this does have a lot of potential.