Fumi Yoshinaga Does Mothers and Daughters

I finished reading All My Darling Daughters

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  This is manga is a collection of interconnected short stories from Fumi Yoshinaga.

The Goon Goes Digital On iTUNES Today

Press release from Dark Horse Comics:

ERIC POWELL’S EISNER-WINNING THE GOON RETURNS IN 2010!


THE GOON ARRIVES ON THE iPHONE THIS WEEK AND IS BACK IN PRINT WITH THE ALL-NEW BUZZARD MINISERIES THIS SUMMER

Fans and critics alike rejoiced in 2008, when creator Eric Powerll took his redneck zombie noir, "The Goon," monthly for an entire calendar year. Following the release of the landmark graphic novel Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker, Powell laid out his most complex story line to date, spanning twelve issues. In 2009, the creator celebrated the tenth anniversary of the title, releasing a special anniversary issue to coincide with a burlesque anniversary party in his honor in Nashville, followed by a special all-silent issue in November. While both were strong standalone issues, the significantly lighter release schedule left fans wondering what’s next for the madcap mercenary.

Now, The Goon goes digital, as both Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker and The Goon #7, which features Hellboy, are made available on the iPhone platform. Chinatown marks Powell’s first self-contained graphic novel, which chronicles the earliest adventures of Goon and his wisecracking sidekick, Franky. After a new figure in the crime scene begins taking out the Goon’s business operations one by one, the Goon’s darkest moment comes back to haunt him, when his mind and body were left scarred . . . and his heart was left black. This new platform promises to expose an all-new readership to comics’ most beloved brute.

Not to worry, however: longtime fans will be rewarded with an all-new spinoff title based around Goon Year’s most notable character, Buzzard. Eric Powell gives one of his most beloved and mysterious characters his own highly anticipated, three-issue miniseries.

Following his brutal showdown with the loathsome Zombie Priest, Buzzard leaves his home, wandering aimlessly until he steps into the shadowy spirit realm of the forest. A dark path leads him to a small village living in fear of a bestial race of savages. More animal than man, these creatures hunt the villagers and drag them from their slumber in the depth of night.

“Buzzard has always been a personal favorite of mine from the Goon cast, and from the amount of requests I’ve gotten to give him his own series, I imagine he’s a favorite of the readers as well,” said Goon creator Eric Powell. “I’m really excited to finally be giving him his own story, along with the revival of Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities!”

For those who missed Goon Year, Dark Horse will be giving this twelve-issue story line the deluxe treatment with the release of Fancy Pants Edition Volume 3: Goon Year on July seventh. Powell’s all-new Buzzard series will arrive on shelves later this fall.

Look for news forthcoming on the return of the Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities
short stories—a revival of the series from 2005 that paired Eric Powell with artist Kyle Hotz. The three-issue series will launch later this year.

Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker is available for download today in the iTunes store. For a limited time, this heart-wrenching story is available for the sale price of 1.99. In addition, the celebrated one-shot The Goon #7 is available for free download for the next three days.

For more information, visit www.darkhorse.com/features/mobile.

There has never been a better time to find out what you’ve been missing! [END]

Moonstone Books Announces Fifth "Phantom KGB Noir"

From Moonstone Books:

PHANTOM Double Shot #5: KGB Noir (of 6)

Stories: Mike Bullock, Nancy Holder
Art: Fernando Peniche
Cover: Dennis Calero
24pgs, b/w, $2.99

A Special Noir Mini-Series Starring The Phantom with Tectonic Tie-In Tales Featuring Moonstone Books’ Best and Brightest Stars!

*Deep in the bowels of Madeira Island, the Ghost Who Walks deals with the repercussions of the Hammer Strike! And then, Domino Lady tries to commute A Death Sentence of a Russian Hollywood stuntman who fears being found by the Russian Secret Police.

RETAILER INCENTIVE: purchase 4 or more of Phantom Double Shot#4 will receive one free copy of Phantom GWW#10 and one free copy of Domino Lady #3. [END]

Newave Book, Steven Weissman & GAHAN WILSON at FBI Bookstore

Press release from Fantagraphics Books:

Newave, Weissman & GAHAN WILSON at FBI Bookstore


Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present a remarkable series of exhibitions, signings and receptions on successive Saturday evenings January 30 through February 13. These amazing events will feature both emerging talent and legendary masters of the comics medium.

Fantagraphics Books celebrates the publication of NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s with an exhibition, book signing, and mini comix workshop on Saturday, January 30 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The show will feature original art and graphics by underground mini comix pioneers Jamie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, and XNO. NEWAVE editor Michael Dowers will produce and distribute a mini comic on site. This festive reunion also includes live music, a comix jam, and the debut of the NEWAVE! anthology.

On Saturday, February 6 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, prolific comics creator and illustrator Steven Weissman appears on the occasion of the debut of his latest book CHOCOLATE CHEEKS. The award-winning Weissman explores a peculiar alternative to traditional childhood relationships. Influenced by classic comic strip characters and pop culture icons, this wonderful artist appeals to readers of all ages.

Please join us on Saturday, February 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, when Fantagraphics Bookstore is honored to host an art exhibition and reception for living legend Gahan Wilson. His delightfully demented sense of humor is celebrated in GAHAN WILSON: 50 YEARS OF PLAYBOY CARTOONS, an exquisite 3-volume slipcase edition that includes over 1,000 comics and illustrations by the acknowledged master of the macabre. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet one of America’s most incredible idiosyncratic artists.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street, only minutes south of downtown Seattle. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. [END]

Moonstone Books Details Tenth "The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks"

From Moonstone Books:

THE PHANTOM: GHOST WHO WALKS #10

Story: Mike Bullock
Art: Silvestre Syzilagyi
Colors: Bob Pedroza
Covers: by Steve Scott
32pgs, color, $3.99

“Godfall” Part III (of V)

Child Soldiers, old enemies and dark hallways deep within HIM’s castle aren’t exactly what Phantom had in mind. But wait until he discovers what’s waiting for him deep in the bowels of the bloodiest castle in all of Africa.

(Cover A=75%, Duo-tone wide shot virgin Steve Scott cover =25%)

”This book looks as good as anything coming out of the Big Two, and it reads better than most of it." – Comixtreme

“The Phantom may be decades old but his stories continue to be fresh, relevant and exciting.” – BrokenFrontier [END]

AAM/Markosia Announces "The Dark" and "Freeman of the Armed Services"

Press release from AAM/Markosia:

"The Dark" and "Freeman of the Armed Services" hit the shelves in March


March will see the introduction of two new OGN’s (Original Graphic Novels) from publisher AAM/Markosia, following hot on the heels of recent successes ‘From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker’, ‘Serpent Wars’ and ‘Kong: King of Skull Island’.

The Dark, written and created by Chris Lynch with art by Rick Lundeen, is a super-hero sci-fi thriller that challenges the reader’s very perceptions of reality versus fiction. It is the story of Daniel Abbot, a brilliant young scientist on the fringes of the establishment and the creator of Memetech - a technology that encodes information and memories into a liquid form, allowing anyone to literally "drink" the encoded knowledge. Terrified that his invention will be used for military purposes he decides to destroy his research, but not before he takes one last trip ... with disastrous results. Two years on and the genie is out of the bottle. Abbot, having perfected his own version of the technology, fights a one-man war against the spread of his own invention and the collapse of our information culture in the guise of ‘The Dark’.

“We've hidden lots of coded messages throughout the book,” explains Lynch, “Both in the dialogue and in the artwork. From the symbol on The Dark's chest to adverts in the background, everything is there for a reason. Hopefully people will get a kick out of trying to solve the mystery, or at least from looking back after they've read the book for the first time to find all the clues they missed. Either way, we wanted to create something with enough depth to bring people back to re-read the story time and again.”

Also shipping in the same month is Freeman of the Armed Services, written and drawn by industry veteran Huw-J. Freeman is a true archetypal British hero of old, a cross between James Bond, Doc Savage and Captain Britain without the spandex! Action and adventure throughout as our hero takes us back to the good old days where the spirit of adventure and good old-fashioned action reigned supreme. You join Captain Freeman in his search of a mysterious Viking treasure in the frozen north and battling an evil Chinese drug lord alongside Irish gangs in prohibitionist era New York, in a non-stop action-packed adventure akin to the old Saturday morning pulp shows.

“When I decided to take the successful ‘Garth’ strip down from the Daily Mirror website it was with both sadness and excitement,” explains Huw-J. Re-branding the character as "Freeman" was easy as I wanted the character to be 'a homage' to all the creators who went before me, so buckle up and enjoy the ride!”


The Diamond order codes for both books are:

JAN10 0699 THE DARK GN a 18pg preview is available to view online http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=12805

JAN10 0698 FREEMAN OF THE ARMED SERVICES GN a 28pg preview is available to view online http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=24152


About AAM/Markosia:
Launched in 2005 AAM Markosia has been a leader in the independent publishing field, with titles such as and many more. AAM/Markosia will be attending many conventions during 2010, including MCM Expo, Birmingham International Comics Show, Bristol Comic Expo, Mocca, SPX, Comic Geek Speak Supershow. [END]

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The End of Ludwig II

I finally, finally finished reading Ludwig II Volume 2 (Yaoi) (v. 2)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.