I Reads You Review: NEGIMA!? neo, VOL. 6

Creators: Ken Akamatsu (story) and Takuya Fujima (art); Alethea Nibley, Athena Nibley (translation and adaptation)

Publishing Information: Del Rey Manga, paperback, 196 pages, $10.99 (US), $11.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-0-345-52059-3 (ISBN-13)

 

Rating “OT for Ages 16+”

 

Negima! Magister Negi Magi was a manga created by Ken Akamatsu (the creator of Love Hina) that followed the adventures of a Welsh preteen wizard who teaches at an all-girls high school in Japan. The series spawned several anime productions. One of those anime, entitled Negima!?, re-imagined the series and also inspired the manga series, Negima!? neo.

Ten-year-old Negi Springfield is the greatest prodigy to ever graduate from his magic school in England. Negi dreams of becoming a Magister Magi (master mage) so that he can better protect the ones he loves. He also hopes his exploits will led him to his father, the legendary mage, Nagi Springfield. Negi teaches English at Mahora Academy, an all-girls junior high school in Japan, where he must deal with 31 beautiful girls who are often overly affectionate with him. Negi must also do his job without using magic.

In Negima!? neo, Vol. 6, Negi and his master, the vampire Evangeline AK McDowell, take a trip back in time to watch Evangeline and her master, Negi’s father, Nagi Springfield, fight off a Yuletide demonic invasion. Next, Akira Okochi, one of Negi’s students and a member of the school swim team, befriends a lost and sick baby dolphin. Finally, Makie Sasaki and Yuna Akashi take a trip by train in order to celebrate an anniversary only one of them remembers.

My prior experience with Negima!? neo was Volume 1, and I wasn’t crazy about it. I found the fantasy and comedy too broad, as it encompassed several genres, including action, horror and science fiction. I also found the narrative to be on otaku overload or fan overload. The series seemed more like a parody of anime.

In this volume, the stories focus on the characters and their relationships with one another. There is certainly a lot of fantasy action – as in the two-chapter, time travel episode with Nagi and Evangeline. There is high school fun and heartwarming drama in the tale of human-animal interaction, “Grand Bleu Friends.” Fanservice abounds in the breasts-and-booty fest, “The Longed-For Love Lingerie!?” A heartwarming tale of friendship offers innuendo and martial arts in “A Pair of Cherries.” So genre and the usual Negima!? neo antics are plentiful here.

It is all, however, character driven. When told from the point of view of character, Negima!? neo’s wildness and genre extravagances don’t seem like mere excess. Experiencing this manga through the characters is the way to really enjoy it.

B+

The Grand Guignol Orchestra and the Zombie Dolls

I read Grand Guignol Orchestra, Vol. 1

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

Todd McFarlane to Invade New York City

TODD MCFARLANE INVADES NEW YORK COMIC CON

Teams-up with Curt Schilling for Big Video Game Reveal, and Dynamic Duo McFarlane and Greg Capullo make rare joint appearance

If you're one of the lucky fans attending New York Comic-Con (http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/) October 8th - 10th, there are some pretty cool McFarlane-related events and giveaways you do NOT want to miss. Image Comics (#1647) and 38 Studios (#2257) are giving YOU the chance to meet Todd McFarlane, Curt Schilling and Greg Capullo at the show.

TODD McFARLANE - FRIDAY

Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Image Comics Booth #1647

Head to the Image Comics' booth (http://www.imagecomics.com/) for a very rare joint autograph signing with McFarlane (Spawn, Haunt) and Capullo (Spawn, Haunt). The Image Booth will be selling both Haunt ($9.99) and Spawn ($14.99) trade paperbacks. 125 FREE tickets for the autograph session will be given away at the Image Comics booth starting at 1pm on Friday. No purchase required. Limit two signatures per person.

Todd McFarlane Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Midtown Comics Booth #2143

When the con doors open at 1pm, Midtown Comics' booth (http://www.midtowncomics.com/) will give away 100 FREE tickets to fans wanting to attend the special McFarlane signing. Midtown will have a wide range of McFarlane's work available for purchase. One ticket per person. No purchase required. Limit two signatures, per person.

PANEL: Toys Are Us! How Your Favorite Toys Are Made with Special Guest Todd McFarlane (http://nycc_nyaf10.mapyourshow.com/3_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=1049)
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 6 PM - 7 PM
Panel Room 6 (1A21)

Panelists:
• Todd McFarlane, Founder of McFarlane Toys
• Shawn Smith, Creative Director and CEO of Shawnimals
• Jesse Falcon, VP of Product Development at Marvel Entertainment
• David Scroggy, VP of Product Development at Dark Horse Comics
• Zach Oat, former ToyFare Editor and Co-author of Pop Sculpture: How to Create Action Figures and Collectible Statues

Todd McFarlane at Toys "R" Us Times Square Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 7:00 PM
Location: Toys R Us Times Square, Level Three, The Skybox

If you weren't lucky enough to score a ticket to NYCC, McFarlane and Toy R Us are doing a special autograph signing after the con closes for the night, and EVERYONE is invited. 400 fans will get the chance to meet and get an autograph from the legendary Artist and McFarlane Toys Founder. Tickets are available in advance and day of the event with a $20 purchase at the Toys "R" Us Times Square store (http://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/times-square/special-events/). Tickets are limited to one per person. Autographs are limited to one action figure and one additional memorabilia item, time permitting.

TODD MCFARLANE - SATURDAY

Todd McFarlane and Curt Schilling, Autograph Signing
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning FREE Limited Edition Posters
Date/Time: Saturday, October 9th 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: 38 Studio's Booth #2257

Many of you have been following the news about 38 Studios (http://38studios.com/) Founder and Chairman, and three-time World Series Champion, Curt Schilling, and our very own Todd McFarlane teaming up on an exciting new video game slated to release in 2011. NYCC attendees will definitely want to visit 38 Studios Booth learn more about the upcoming title Reckoning, including a new creature reveal, three incredible McFarlane Toys designed in-game prototypes, and to get their hands on FREE posters and other Reckoning giveaways. FREE.

GREG CAPULLO - SATURDAY

Greg Capullo Hero Initiative Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Saturday, October 9th 1:30 PM- 2:30 PM
Location: Hero Initiative Booth #333

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to meet Greg and get your favorite Capullo comics signed, all while supporting Hero Initiative (http://www.heroinitiative.org/) an amazing cause in the comic industry! No ticket required. No purchase required, but donations are highly encouraged.

Greg Capullo Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Saturday, October 9th 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Image Comics Booth #1647

Comic book artist extraordinaire Greg Capullo, whose amazingly detailed style and incredible desire to grow and evolve as an artist, have made him a fan-favorite. Greg first made a name for himself while working on Marvel Comics' X-Force, but he has left an unmistakable mark on the landscape of the comic book industry with his breathtaking work on Spawn and his creator-owned title, The Creech. Greg's art can currently be seen in the top selling ongoing series, Haunt from Todd McFarlane Productions and Image Comics. FREE, no tickets required.

GREG CAPULLO - SUNDAY

Creating Comics the Image Comics Way
Date/Time: Sunday, October 10th 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Room 1A24

How do Image Creators make the best books in the business? Join us for a roundtable discussion of creator-owned comics, with an insider's perspective on how ownership makes the creative process more fulfilling. Jim Valentino (ShadowHawk), Greg Capullo (Haunt, Creech, Spawn), Marc Guggenheim (Halcyon), Joe Casey (Officer Downe), and Ben Templesmith (Choker) share their thoughts on publishing with Image Comics.

Greg Capullo Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Sunday, October 10th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Image Comics Booth #1647

On Sunday, fans will have one last chance to meet the legendary artist, Greg Capullo, before the NYCC close the doors for another year. FREE, no ticket required.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Win an iPod Touch from Radical Publishing

NOW REVIEW AND WIN EVEN MORE WITH RADICAL

Radical Publishing recently asked on Facebook how we can make this contest even better and after listening, we’ve decided that in addition to free signed comics from both Rick Remender and Clint Langley, we’ll include a FREE 8GB IPOD TOUCH, loaded with exclusive Radical Publishing videos and artwork. All you have to do is pick up a copy of DRIVER FOR THE DEAD #2 and post a review in the comments section of Radical’s Facebook contest page at http://tiny.cc/0qsrh. The reviewer with the greatest number of “Likes” for their review will win:

One 8GB IPOD TOUCH with exclusive Radical videos and artwork
One copy of THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #1 signed by Rick Remender
One copy of HERCULES: THE KNIVES OF KUSH #1 signed by Clint Langley

Created and written by John Heffernan with illustrations from Leonardo Manco, DRIVER FOR THE DEAD has already received overwhelming praise since the first issue hit the stands.

"If you’re looking for a fun ride, look no further. DRIVER FOR THE DEAD #1 literally puts the pedal to the metal, plows through anyone (or anything) in its way and never looks back." - Fangoria

"... Writing and visuals that are virtually cinematic in caliber and scope." - Philadelphia Daily News

"Hang onto your seats because DRIVER FOR THE DEAD promises to take you on a helluva ride." - Buzz Focus

"... A fun story and kick-ass art. Simply put, it's one cool comic." - Player Affinity

Each Facebook account is limited to one review and the deadline for reviews is 12:00 A.M. PST on October 5th. Contact your local comic book retailer to reserve your copy of Driver for the Dead #2 and inspire your network of friends to help you win.


About Radical Publishing
Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion, The Last Days of American Crime, Legends, Damaged, Earp: Saints for Sinners and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and entrepreneur Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion, The Last Days of American Crime, Legends, Damaged and Earp: Saints for Sinners).

For their quality and excellence in 2008, Radical Publishing was granted the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling, and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market and currently has production deals with Spyglass Entertainment and Peter Berg’s Film 44 for Hercules, with Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil for Caliber, New Regency and Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions for Freedom Formula, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment for Legends, Dreamworks, Sam Raimi’s Star Road Entertainment and Mandeville Films for Earp: Saints for Sinners as well as Walt Disney Pictures for Oblivion. For more information, visit http://www.radicalpublishing.com/.

New Okko: The Cycle of Air Now in Stores

OKKO: THE CYCLE OF AIR #3

Retail Price: $3.95 U.S.
Page Count: 32 pages
Format: 6.875” x 10.25”, full color
On-sale Date: September 29, 2010
Written, illustrated and cover by Hub

Left for dead after a terrible duel, Okko lies abandoned in the countryside as the Celestial Winds rise and the season of kamikaze cocoons begins. His traveling companions have but one thought: to avenge their friend and master. But can they, even together, hope to defeat that killing machine, the dread demon hunter known as Kubban Kiritsu?

Teen + 13 (this series contains material suitable for (Teen Readers 13 and above)

Todd McFarlane Art Book Coming in December

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

 

Image Comics presents the perfect holiday gift this December with THE ART OF TODD McFARLANE

When you're writing your holiday wish list, don't forget to include THE ART OF TODD McFARLANE: THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS -- Todd McFarlane's first-ever art book!

This oversized hardcover showcases for the first time Todd McFarlane's unique art style, which forever changed the landscape of comic book art when he burst onto the scene in the 1980s. THE ART OF TODD McFARLANE features art from original comic art boards; rare, never-before-seen sketches; and images from McFarlane's work on Batman, Spider-Man and the Hulk (amongst many others), as well as McFarlane's own top-selling creation, SPAWN. The book also includes selected commentary by the artist himself.

"This book is 20 years in the making and follows my decades of trying to learn this craft of drawing and comics," relates McFarlane. "I'm hoping this book will be an inspiration to young artists, not so much from my advanced pages, but from the raw, undeveloped drawing I entered the industry with. It took me quite a few years to go from adequate to someone who wasn't afraid of where the next job would come from. I'm hoping this art book shows the evolution of my style, and will be a positive message to those that have aspirations to be in this industry. I also hope it will be entertaining to those who have followed my career, seeing that I didn't come out of the shoot fully formed artistically."

THE ART OF TODD McFARLANE: THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, a 300-page full-color oversized hardcover for $64.99 (OCT100465), will be in stores December 1, 2010. The regular edition will be limited to 5,000 copies while the signed and numbered edition, which retails for $100 (OCT100466), will be limited to only 300 copies. Don't miss your chance to get the perfect gift, whether for a loved one or for yourself!


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Welcome to I Reads You October 2010

Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read (mostly comic books, comics, and related books) and about the things I come across worth reading (mostly about comic books, politics, and entertainment). Sometimes I’ll comment on “real” books and the mass media.

I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin (which has smart phones apps).

All images appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.