Jormungand Meets the Orchestra

I read Jormungand, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  This was better than the first volume.

Ikigami the Last Lesson

I read Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Vol. 4

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Vampire Kisses Blood Relatives Comes to an End with Third Volume

I finally read Vampire Kisses: Blood Relative, Volume III.

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  I would go back and say that this was one of the best manga of the year.

I Reads You Review: BLOODY KISS, VOL. 2

Creator: Kazuko Furumiya
Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 208 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1580-4 (ISBN-13)

Kiyo Katsuragi lives in a crumbling mansion located deep in a fog-enshrouded forest. However, the house isn’t the only thing Kiyo inherited from her late grandmother. The mansion comes with two squatters, Lord Kuroboshi, a dhampir – half-human/half-vampire – and his attendant, a vampire named Alshu. Apparently vampires choose to drink blood from only one person, called a “bride.” In order to be a full-fledged vampire, Kuroboshi must have a bride, and he chooses Kiyo, who isn’t crazy about the idea.

Bloody Kiss, Vol. 2 is the concluding volume of this fantasy, gothic romance, light drama, and comedy. This volume features the debut of another main character, Sou Mizukami, a childhood friend of Kiyo’s. Now, a monster/demon hunter, Sou is determined to protect Kiyo from Kuroboshi, but that is more out of jealous than out of fidelity to his vocation.

While the previous volume focused on the combative, growing romance between Kiyo and Kuroboshi, the second volume focuses on Kiyo’s high school, where Kuroboshi also becomes a student. Kiyo and Kuroboshi are still fighting, in that way two people who might become a couple fight in romantic comedies. Now, each is also fighting rivals for the other’s affections, which gives the stories a nice change of tone. The unusual living arrangement at Kiyo’s mansion works best as a comedy when placed in contrast with the outside, normal world.

Bloody Kiss has a nice, appealing mood – part pop gothic romance (the Twilight Saga) and part high school comedy. Fans of shojo manga (comics for teen girls) will like it just because it feels so different. Like the gaze of a vampire, this series has a mysterious power over the reader Although the series ends abruptly, creator Kazuko Furumiya hints that there may be more. I hope so because Bloody Kiss’ potential is largely untapped.

B+

Buy Bloody Kiss Volume 2

Gahan Wilson to Appear at Fantagraphics Bookstore

Press release from Fantagraphics Books:

Legendary Master of Macabre Gahan Wilson in Seattle Sat., Feb. 13!


Legendary Master of Macabre Cartoonist Gahan Wilson Appears at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, February 13!

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle is pleased to host a rare appearance by the incomparable Gahan Wilson. Best known for his grotesque gag cartoons commenting on contemporary culture, the revered artist commemorates the publication of with an exhibition of original art and book signing on Saturday, December 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Gahan Wilson’s singular aesthetic with decidedly low brow sensibilities has roots in his adolescent exposure to lurid horror comic books and pulp magazines. ''I was a creepy little kid,” Wilson recalls. “I did the whole comic book thing, and then I discovered Weird Tales – instantly homed right in on that around high school, and just loved it.” His early illustrations found their way to the pages of the pulps and were later published in prestigious periodicals like Collier’s, The New Yorker, and Playboy.

His delightfully demented sense of humor is celebrated in GAHAN WILSON: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, an exquisite 3-volume slipcase edition from Fantagraphics Books that includes over 1,000 comics and illustrations by the acknowledged master of the macabre as well as all of Wilson’s prose fiction in Playboy. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet an America original, one week short of his 80th birthday.

Also on display on February 13 for one night only is a recently completed sculpted portrait of comix legend R. Crumb by Seattle artist Michael Leavitt. Commissioned for a private out-of-state collection, this will provide the only opportunity to view the fully articulated wood carved figure – the latest addition to Leavitt’s ongoing “Art Army” series.

The reception on Saturday February 13 coincides with the colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations throughout the neighborhood, just in time for Valentine’s Day. What better place for art mavens of all ages to observe this romantic occasion than in the enchanting industrial arts quarter of Georgetown.

Listing Information:
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons
Saturday, February 13, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) Seattle, WA
Phone 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

ALSO: Be sure to tune in to KUOW 94.9's "Weekday" show from 9AM to 10AM, on Friday, Feb. 12th, when Gahan will be talking to host Steve Scher about the event and his legendary career. [END]

Steven Weissman Visits Portland and Seattle

Press release from Fantagraphics Books:

DOUBLE TROUBLE! STEVEN WEISSMAN HITS UP PORTLAND AND SEATTLE


CHOCOLATE CHEEKS Book Signings & Art Events with Steven Weissman

Floating World Comics and Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery are proud to present two special events with Steven Weissman, creator of Yikes!, for his newest release Chocolate Cheeks. First in Portland, Floating World Comics will have an entire exibition of orginal art plus Steven signing books. Then, the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle has Steven selling prints and signing like a madman.

LISTING INFORMATION:
Who: Steven Weissman
What: CHOCOLATE CHEEKS signing & art exhibition
When: Thursday, Feb. 4th, 6-10pm
Where: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave. #101 Portland, OR 97209

Also:
Who: Steven Weissman
What: CHOCOLATE CHEEKS signing & art selling
When: Saturday, Feb. 6th, 7-8pm
Where: Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. Seattle, WA 98108

Hilarious, frightening, mysterious, adorable and utterly bleak, Chocolate Cheeks has arrived to disgust and delight comic-book readers of all ages. “Sweet” Chubby Cheeks and the Pullapart Boy (a 21st Century Frankensteinʼs monster for kids) are driving each other crazy. Forced together by their dating parents, these two bitter enemies have alienated—or otherwise disposed of—most of their social circle, leaving them with plenty of quality time for each other. They go camping, start a business, form a band, join a team, try to make some new friends, and engage in a “holy war.” Things go from worse to worst when the two boys find a cat one hot summer day in the harrowing 51-page story “Blue Jay” (as previously serialized at Fantagraphics.com).

Steven Weissman, modern master of light tragedy, is at his most horrible with Chocolate Cheeks. Juxtaposing gag-driven, newspaper-fashioned strips that are just gross enough to delight younger readers and sophisticated enough to be appreciated by grown-ups alongside the symbolically rich extended narrative of “Blue Jay,” this is the most superb Yikes! Books to date.


BIO INFORMATION:
Steven Knight Weissman was born in California in 1968. He has written and drawn comics for Marvel Entertainment, Nickelodeon Magazine and, most TRIUMPHANTLY, Fantagraphics Books. He currently lives in Los Angeles's “Little Armenia” neighborhood with his wife, Charissa, and their son, Charles. [END]

One Piece Capriccio

I read One Piece, Vol. 30

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.