One Piece: Captain

I read One Piece, Vol. 35

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Moonstone Books Announces "The Phantom KGB Noir" TPB for June 2010

JUNE 2010 release:


The PHANTOM: KGB NOIR: The Hammer TPB

Story: Mike Bullock
Art: Fernando Peniche
Cover: E.M. Geist
72pgs, b/w, 7” x 10”, $8.95
ISBN: 10: 1-933076-80-1
ISBN: 13: 978-1933076-80-5

Collects the very cool noir 6 issue mini series!
When a cabal of ex-KGB agents plan a WMD buy, it’s up to The Phantom to keep them from obtaining the device. But when our hero engages the Russians, he soon discovers The Hammer is falling and the United States is the nail.

BONUS FEATURE: Includes liner notes by the author!

I Reads You Review: ONE PIECE, VOL. 34

Creator: Eiichiro Oda with JN Productions (translations) and Megan Bates (English adaptation)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media, paperback, 232 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-3450-3 (ISBN-13)

One Piece is a popular shonen manga (comics for teen boys) created by Eiichiro Oda and featuring the adventures of a group of pirates known as “the Straw Hats.” The star of the series is Monkey D. Luffy, who has the ability to stretch like rubber. He got this ability by eating the “Devil Fruit” (specifically the “Gum Gum” variety). Since he was a child, Luffy has wanted to become the King of Pirates, mainly because, as a kid, he listened to the stories of the pirate, “Red-Haired” Shanks.

Luffy cannot swim (a side effect of the Gum Gum Fruit), but that did not deter him from setting out to sea. Over the series, readers watched as Luffy gradually gathered the crew members who would become the Straw Hats. They are Zolo the master swordsman; Nami the treasure-hunting thief; Usopp, the lying sharpshooter; Sanji the high-kicking chef; Chopper, the walkin’ talkin’ reindeer doctor; and newcomer, the mysterious archeologist, Nico Robin. Together, they travel on their ship, the Merry Go, searching for the legendary treasure known as “One Piece.”

Starting this past January, VIZ Media accelerated the publication of One Piece, with five new volumes published each month (until June 2010). Currently, the American publication of One Piece is in the midst of the series’ fourth storyline, Water Seven.

As One Piece, Vol. 34 (entitled The City of Water, Water Seven) begins, the Davy Back Fight, a game in which the Straw Hats take on the Foxy Pirates, comes to a shattering conclusion. Luffy finds a way to beat Foxy the Silver Fox, Captain of the Foxy Pirates. Before Luffy and company can head onto their next adventure, they must face Admiral Aokiji of Navy Headquarters, and he has come to collect Robin. Aokiji will kill to get her, and the crew will bear witness to his cold-blooded power.

One Piece is a rousing adventure, and while I sometimes compare it to Pirates of the Caribbean, One Piece is much more imaginative. The art that actually tells this story to readers will amaze, but there are graphics in this volume that simply blew my mind. Once the Straw Hats enter The City of Water, Water Seven, creator Eiichiro Oda and his staff put their drawing skills to work and create an entire functioning city. And this city, which acts as a set for the story, is essentially just background art! Our attention will be held on the art depicting the Straw Hats and the new strange people and weird creatures they meet in Water Seven. Those visuals are fantastic, but to also have this remarkable architecture and cityscape in the background… Well, One Piece impresses, and the reasons for its success are right before our very eyes.

A

Buy One Piece, Vol. 34

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

Moonstone Books Announces Phantom: Eastern Dark TPB for June

JUNE 2010 release:


The PHANTOM: Guardian of the Eastern Dark TPB

Story: Mike Bullock
Art: Silvestre Szilagyi, Fernando Peniche
Cover: Michael Stribling
296pgs, color, 7” x 10”, $24.95
ISBN: 10: 1933076-1-x 13: 1-978-1933076-81-2

This collection reprints the entire 12 issue run of “The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks”!

Justice served in today’s Africa by the one man who has been safeguarding its shores for over 400 years!

Bluewater's "Political Power" Focuses on Senator Al Franken

SENATOR AL FRANKEN TO GET COMIC BOOK TREATMENT IN MAY


It's hard to remember, but there was a time when Al Franken was just a comic and writer. Today, though, he is a rising political star.

Franken is also set to become the latest subject in Bluewater Productions' Political Power line of biography comics. Political Power: Al Franken will be released to comic shops across the country in May 2009.

Franken made history in 2008, when he defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to become the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Of course, this victory did not come easily. In a race that was decided by a razor-thin margin and involved a recount and several appeals, all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled in Franken's favor. Franken was finally sworn in on July 7, 2009 after Coleman declined to take the controversial case to the U.S. Supreme Court and instead conceded after a hard-fought, eight-month ordeal.

Political Power: Al Franken will trace the Senator's rise from Saturday Night Live writer, a position he often used to skewer politicians, to radio talk show host to viable Senate candidate.

Writer Jerome Maida said that the comic might introduce readers to sides of Franken's character that most of them did not know he possessed.

“Al Franken has this reputation - not completely unfounded, if you read the comic - as a metaphorical bomb-thrower, a guy who hates his enemies and has an in-your-face style,” Maida said. “While I did find some stuff that would support that perception, I also found out a lot more interesting stuff that makes him a real person, a character instead of a caricature.”

Maida, for instance, discovered that Franken first fell in love with politics at a young age. He also discovered that Franken co-wrote the powerful film When a Man Loves a Woman, a movie based on his wife's alcoholism.

Bluewater's Political Power line has attracted mainstream publicity and strong sales. The company's comics featuring Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy have all generated strong sales in a declining comic book market. The goal of these biography comics is simple: Tell moving stories of politically powerful individuals in an evenhanded and balanced way.

“At a time in which comic book readership continues to decline, our Political Power books continue to bring new readers to the graphic medium,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater Productions. “I'm proud of that. And I think our readers will find that Jerome has crafted a compelling tale in Political Power: Al Franken.”

The new comic will retail for $3.99.

For more information about Bluewater or its line of biography comics, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com/

About Bluewater Productions
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” ”Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“Tek War Chronicles”), Logan's Run and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers.

Following its commitment to green publishing, Bluewater comic books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in Bluewater books contains fiber from well managed and responsibility harvested forests that meet strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.

For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.

VIZ Media Announces New Natsume Ono

SAVOR A TASTY MANGA TREAT WITH NATSUME ONO’S RISTORANTE PARADISO NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA

New VIZ Signature Release Comes From The Talented Creator of HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES And not simple

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release on March 16th of the manga -Natsume Ono’s RISTORANTE PARADISO. The story, a romance among the staff at a bistro in Rome, is offered in a single volume and will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint. RISTORANTE PARADISO is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

At the age of 21, Nicoletta travels to Rome to find her mother, Olga, who abandoned her long ago. Nicoletta finds her at Casetta dell'Orso, a charming little restaurant owned by Olga's husband. The staff of bespectacled gentlemen welcomes Nicoletta warmly, but Olga's reception is not so pleasant. Olga has never told her husband that she had a child – and he must never know.

In exchange for Nicoletta's playing "the daughter of an old friend," Olga offers her a place to live and an apprenticeship at the restaurant. Nicoletta fits in well among the unique personalities at Casetta dell'Orso. She gets along particularly well with the kindly headwaiter, Claudio, a divorced man who, in spite of the many years, has still never removed his wedding ring. As Nicoletta's feelings for Claudio become complicated, she finds a sympathetic ear in Olga, leading the estranged pair to form a friendship neither expected. But as they grow closer, the pressure of the secret they share may become too much to bear.

“Natsume Ono continues to push the manga genre in intriguing new directions with her minimalist art style and strong, character-driven stories that deliver surprising quirks and touching endings,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “Two of Ono’s other works, HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES and not simple, both now available for free preview on SigIKKI.com, have garnered accolades from older readers looking for more sophisticated stories. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the unique work of this very talented manga creator.”

Natsume Ono made her professional debut in 2003 with the web comic, LA QUINTA CAMERA, and subsequent works not simple, RISTORANTE PARADISO, and GENTE (a continuation of RISTORANTE PARADISO) have met with both critical and popular acclaim. In 2009, RISTORANTE PARADISO was adapted into an animated TV series. Her manga drama HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES is currently published in Japan in IKKI magazine.

For more information on other VIZ Signature titles please visit www.VIZsignature.com.

Mark Millar and John Romita to Promote "Kick Ass" at Forbidden Planet

From Forbidden Planet:

MARK MILLAR & JOHN ROMITA Jr. at FORBIDDEN PLANET

Diary Date: Sunday 21st March 2 – 3pm
Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by MARK MILLAR and JOHN ROMITA Jr. They will be signing the graphic novel KICK ASS and the movie companion book KICK ASS: CREATING THE COMIC, MAKING THE MOVIE at Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2h 8JR on Sunday March 21st 2 – 3pm.
The KICK-ASS phenomenon unites acclaimed writer Mark Millar and award-winning artist John Romita Jr. for one of the 21st century’s most outrageous and acclaimed series. What would happen if you tried to be a superhero – if an ordinary kid in spandex came face-to-face with the criminal underworld?
In the graphic novel, Dave Lizewski is just a regular American teenager with a MySpace page, a comic book collection, and no girlfriend. As self-styled vigilante Kick-Ass, however, he’s about to find out exactly how a superhero would fare in the real world... and it’s going to get really, really violent!
To accompany the film release, Mark Millar has also written the full and official page-to-screen story of KICK-ASS, collecting the input of the cast and crew as well as artist John Romita Jr. With eye-popping art from the original comics, script extracts and hundreds of movie photos, this is the indispensable guide to every aspect of ass-kicking.
PLEASE NOTE: WE CANNOT OFFER THESE ITEMS AS SIGNED PRE-ORDERS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SIGNED COPY, YOU WILL NEED TO BE AT THE EVENT.
Forbidden Planet is the largest store of its kind in the world. Some of the biggest names in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics and Cult Entertainment have come to our London Megastore for signing events, including: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Terry Gilliam, Simon Pegg, William Gibson, Mark Millar, Guillermo Del Toro, Brian Froud and Stephen King.
For more news about our signings please go to: http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/