I Reads You Review: DEATH NOTE, VOL. 1

Creators: Story by Tsugumi Ohba; art by Takeshi Obata

Publishing Information: VIZ Media, paperback, 200 pages, $7.99 (US), $9.99 CAN, £5.99 UK

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-0168-0 (ISBN-13); 1-4215-0168-6 (ISBN-10)

The shonen manga Death Note, by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata, remains popular long after its conclusion not just because of any infamy or controversy the series has gained, but also because of the generally thoughtful approach to the storytelling and the series’ philosophical matters.

Death Note, Vol. 1 introduces the primary players and central concepts. Light Yagami is a high school student with great prospects for the future, but in spite of his academic achievements, he is bored. Ryuk is a shinigami – a death god, and he is bored out of his mind with the sorry state of affairs in the Realm of the Shinigami. To have some fun, Ryuk drops his Death Note into the human world. The Death Note is a notebook, and any human whose name is written on a page within the notebook will die.

Light finds the Death Note and learns of its use via instructions included inside, so he decides to use it to rid the world of evil – especially of the vilest criminals. After criminals start dropping dead in large numbers, Interpol assigns the legendary detective, L, to track down the killer of these criminals, a killer they name “Kira.” With L seemingly getting closer to discovering his activities, Light engages in a game of cat and mouse with the detective, while trying to stay true to his noble goal.

The seven chapters that comprise this first volume of Death Note serve to introduce the story, settings, and characters to readers, which they do with some detail and quite a bit of efficiency. Ohba not only moves quickly to establish the hook – how Light Yagami uses the Death Note – but the author also begins to dig into the why of Light’s activities. Ohba presents Light as a very intelligent, thoughtful, and well-meaning young man, but a young man who is also conniving, manipulative, and dangerous. In these early chapters, Ohba does make one wonder to what extent the Death Note has affected Light’s personality. Has this supernatural notebook changed Light or merely brought out his true nature?

The graphic storytelling and art by Takeshi Obata is excellent. Obata establishes Death Note’s suspenseful mood, and balances the narrative’s supernatural and real world aspects. With his drawings, Obata peers into Light’s soul, allowing the reader to investigate the character. Obata also creates an impenetrable aura of mystery around the detective L that makes this excellent series all the better.

A

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Making a New (Book of) Friends

I finished reading Natsume's Book of Friends, Vol. 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. This is book is due in bookstores early next year. If you like yokai and the spirits of Japanese folklore, you may like this.

I Want a New Drug

I finally finished reading ZONE-OO Volume 2

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. Pretty art, but pretty hard to follow.

"Alec" Omnibus Now Available

From Chris Staros of Top Shelf:

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED -- THE ALEC OMNIBUS IS HERE

EDDIE CAMPBELL'S OMNIBUS, ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS, IS NOW IN STOCK AND HITTING STORES THIS WEEK!

"My participation in comics originally grew from my personal admiration for the work of Eddie Campbell, both in partnership with Alan Moore (on FROM HELL) and on his own (in the inimitably observant ALEC stories, as well as the irreverent BACCHUS tales). Driven to expose Eddie's work to the widest possible audience, I entered the comics business as Eddie's distributor in the United States, and soon thereafter partnered with Brett Warnock to re-launch Top Shelf. Fifteen years later (!), I'm holding in my hands one of the things I'm most proud of: A gorgeous edition of Eddie's groundbreaking autobiographical comics, collected in a giant 640-page single volume!" -- Chris Staros

A brief description: Brilliantly observed and profoundly expressed, the ALEC stories present a version of Eddie's own life, filtered through the alter ego of "Alec MacGarry." Over many years, we witness Alec's (and Eddie's) progression "from beer to wine" -- wild nights at the pub, existential despair, the hunt for love, the quest for art, becoming a responsible breadwinner, feeling lost at his own movie premiere, and much more! Eddie's outlandish fantasies and metafictional tricks convert life into art, while staying fully grounded in his own absurdity. At every point, the author's uncanny eye for irony and wry self-awareness make even the smallest occasion into an opportunity for wit and wisdom. Quite simply, ALEC is a masterpiece of visual autobiography.

Available in two handsome editions:Softcover with French Flaps:http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=618-- $35.00 (US), Diamond: JUL091081, ISBN 978-1-60309-025-4

Deluxe Hardcover:http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=643-- $49.95 (US), Diamond: JUL091082, ISBN 978-1-60309-047-6

Or see both (and more) at EDDIE CAMPBELL's webpage:http://www.topshelfcomix.com/eddiecampbell

Here's what people are saying:

"ALEC is magic, and even if I knew how all of it was done I'd be doing you a disservice if I pointed out the wires and mirrors. ... It is written by someone who obviously finds being alive an endless source of novelty and conundrum." -- Alan Moore

"Do you need me to tell you how good Eddie Campbell is? Or that ALEC is probably the best book-length comic about art and wine and midlife crises and families and friends and wine and love and art and saying goodbye and terror there is?" -- Neil Gaiman

"This impressive collection -- a high-water mark in the graphic novel's short history -- confirms that no one else in the medium combines emotional truth, literary intelligence, and formal daring with such adroitness and elegance." -- Booklist (starred review)

"Witty and thoughtful ... a great and epic comic documentary novel like no other." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

AND IN THE NEXT DIAMOND PREVIEWS -- OUT JAN 6TH!
TOP SHELF KICKS OFF 2010 WITH SUPER SPY: THE LOST DOSSIERS FROM MATT KINDT & JAMES KOCHALKA'S SUPER F*CKERS COLLECTION!

Top Shelf is proud to kick off 2010 with more SUPER SPY from Matt Kindt, as well James Kochalka's highly-anticipated SUPER F*CKERS collection! Here's the skinny on both:

SUPER F*CKERS by James Kochalka http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=653

SuperF*ckers collects all four fan-favorite issues of Kochalka's beloved SuperF*ckers series, plus the all-new Jack Krak one-shot! Foul-mouthed, filthy-minded, and completely oblivious, these young "heroes" do everything BUT fight crime – they're too busy getting high, hazing the new kids, playing video games, scheming to be team leader, and designing new costumes. A hilariously rude look at what super-powered teens would really be like, presented with Kochalka's signature sweetness and charm, SuperF*ckers is an over-the-top book with its mind in the gutter and its heart on its sleeve. -- $14.95 (US), Full-Color Flexi-Cover Graphic Novel, 144 pages, ISBN 978-1-60309-052-0

"Probably the perfect superhero book, as it appeals as much to people who love superhero books as it does to people who absolutely hate them." -- J. Caleb Mozzocco, Las Vegas Weekly

SUPER SPY (VOL 2): THE LOST DOSSIERS by Matt Kindt http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=646

Couldn't get enough of the critically-acclaimed and Eisner-nominated SUPER SPY? Curious what all the fuss is about? Have we got a book for you! Creator Matt Kindt has pulled out all the stops to make this an unforgettable supplement to (or first taste of) his 2007 opus. What's inside? Deleted scenes! Standalone spy stories! Sketchbook pages! 3-D comics! Full annotations! Diagrams of spy gadgets and keys to unlock secret codes hidden throughout the original book! Toys and stories for you to cut out and assemble! It's like a secret spy activity book for grown-ups! PLUS: illustrations, photos, and commentary from Matt explaining the real-world spy origins of his stories and techniques! Don't just read this book... USE it! -- $12.95 (US), Full-Color Softcover Graphic Novel, 96 pages, ISBN 978-1-60309-043-8

"[Super Spy] rivals the power of the most complex and serious spy novels and films." -- Booklist (starred review)

Graphic novels for your Top Shelf:www.topshelfcomix.com/perennials
www.topshelfcomix.com/kidsclub
www.topshelfcomix.com/eddiecampbell
www.topshelfcomix.com/mattkindt
www.topshelfcomix.com/jameskochalka

The Art of CLAMP and Tsubasa

I finished reading Tsubasa ALBuM De REProDUCTioNS: Original Art Collection

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. This is an art book containing various images of Tsubasa art used as magazine covers, posters, calendar art, etc.

Ape Entertainment to Publish "Scrach9" Next Summer

Press release from Ape Entertainment:

Ape Entertainment today announced plans to publish the all-new young readers comic book miniseries Scratch9, in the summer of 2010 as part of its newly-unveiled KiZoic imprint.

Created by writer Rob M. Worley, Scratch9 features the adventures of a rascally house cat who gains the ability to summon any of his eight other lives to his side to aid him in his adventures.

"I've seen what today's cats are reading and frankly I'm concerned. They're all walking around saying, 'LOL,' and, 'I can has cheezburger,' when they don't even know how to spell 'cheeseburger,'" said Worley, author of the critically-acclaimed junior novel Heir to Fire. "It's about time we put forth a positive role model for cats. That's what we're doing with Scratch9."

Illustrating the book is Harvey Award nominee Jason T. Kruse, creator of the graphic novel series The World of Quest which has gone on to become a cartoon airing on CW4Kids, Teletoon and Cartoon Network UK.

The four-issue series features covers by Eisner-winning artist Mike Kunkel, creator of Herobear & the Kid and artist on DC Comics' Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!

"The second that co-publisher Brent Erwin and I saw 'Scratch9,' we knew it was a hit in the making," said Ape Entertainment Co-Publisher David Hedgecock. "Perfect premise matched by an outstanding creative team. We can't wait to get this into the hands of young readers!"

The book is the second announced offering in Ape Entertainment's KiZoic line, following Mecha-Nation. KiZoic specializes in content aimed primarily at young readers.

"I couldn't be more excited to be doing this book with Ape. They've been doing kids comics since day one and I knew Scratch9 would fit right in," Worley said. "And there are some huge things coming from KiZoic. My little cat is going to be keeping some amazing company there."

Current plans are to solicit Scratch9 in the Diamond Previews catalog early next year with the book arriving in comic shops in the summer.

For up-to-date information on Scratch9 please visit http://scratch9.com
For the latest on Ape Entertainment's KiZoic line, please visit http://kizoic.com
For more information about Ape Entertainment, please visit http://apecomics.com [END]

Wallace and Gromit Digital Comic a Hit

Press release from Titan Publishing:



Wallace & Gromit digital comic reaches half a million downloads!


Titan Publishing's Wallace & Gromit digital comic is taking the iPhone by storm with over half a million downloads of its first free app!


Since its launch on November 7, Wallace & Gromit digital comic has reached number one in the UK free books app store, a first for a British comic and has also risen to the number three spot overall in the free apps chart, a cracking feat and no mistake! All four paid for Wallace & Gromit comic apps have been within the top 20 paid apps in the UK book chart since their launch in November.


And it’s not only us Brits who can’t get enough of Aardman’s iconic duo – it’s currently the number one free book download in America and Canada and number 2 in Australia!


Wallace & Gromit digital comics editor Ned Hartley said: "We've been amazed at how well our first app has done - Wallace & Gromit is such a great brand, and iPhone users obviously love them as much as we do!"


You can download the first Wallace & Gromit Comic, ‘The W Files’ for free at www.titanpublishing/digital, and there are four other fantastic Wallace & Gromit comics available at the app store, for just 59p/$0.99 each!


Wallace & Gromit digital comics are also now available for download on PSP! Issue 1 is available for free and subsequent issues are just 79p/$0.99 each – with each issue containing two great Wallace & Gromit stories!


To find out more information and to download some cracking comics, visitwww.titanpublishing.com/digital


About Wallace and Gromit:
Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series consisting of four British animated short films and a feature-length film by Nick Park of Aardman Animations. All the characters were made from modelling clay on metal armatures and filmed using stop motion animation.


Wallace, an over-ambitious yet well meaning inventor is a cheese enthusiast (especially for Wensleydale cheese). His companion, Gromit, is an anthropomorphic intelligent dog. Wallace is voiced by veteran actor Peter Sallis; Gromit remains silent, communicating only through facial expressions and body language.


Due to their popularity, the characters have been called positive international icons of modern British culture and of the British people. BBC News has called them "some of the best-known and best-loved stars to come out of the UK." The short films The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave and their full length feature The Curse of the Were Rabbit received Academy Awards. The first short film A Grand Day Out, was nominated for the Academy Award for Animated Short Film, but lost to Creature Comforts, another animated creation of Nick Park.


For more information on Wallace and Gromit, visit: http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/


About Titan Magazines:
Titan Magazines is the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment properties in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.


Current titles include: CSI Magazine • Lost Magazine • Heroes Magazine • Star Wars Magazine • Supernatural Magazine • Star Trek Magazine • Stargate Magazine • Torchwood Magazine • Smallville Magazine. • Batman Legends Comic • Simpsons Comics • Futurama Comics • SpongeBob SquarePants Comic • Superman Legends Comic • Star Wars: Clone Wars Comic • Transformers Comic • LazyTown Magazine • Noddy Magazine • Roary the Racing Car Magazine • Fifi and the Flowertots Magazine.


For more information on Titan Magazines, visit:
Magazines - http://titanmagazines.com/
Comics - http://titancomicsuk.com/
Pre-School - http://titantots.com/ [END]