Leroy Douresseaux on HARBOR MOON, an Original Graphic Novel

HARBOR MOON - OGN

ARCANA

 

WRITER/EDITOR/PRODUCER: Ryan Colucci

WRITER: Dikran Ornekian
STORY: Brian Anderson
ARTIST: Pawel Sambor
ART ASSIST: Nikodem Cabala
ART DIRECTOR: Karol Wisniewski
ISBN: 978-1-897548-95-0; paperback
140pp, Color, $19.95 U.S.

Published by Arcana, Harbor Moon is a new original graphic novel (OGN). It is the production and brainchild of writer Ryan Colucci. Part small town mystery and part horror comic book, Harbor Moon tells the story of a man who travels to his father’s hometown only to find a conspiracy of dark secrets that is decades old.

The story focuses on Timothy Vance, a lone wolf type. He receives a mysterious phone call from a man claiming to be, Andrew O’Callaghan, his long lost father. Tim follows the call to out-of-the-way Harbor Moon, Maine, but the residents of this sleepy town don’t take to strangers. In fact, some of the townsfolk get downright violent with Tim, and even Sheriff Roland Sullivan seems reluctant to help him.

Tim does find a sympathetic townie in the form of Kristen, principal of the local high school (among other things). She gives Tim some information, but it is clear that Kristen, like everyone else, is holding onto an incredible secret. As Tim begins to discover that he has something in common with the residents of Harbor Moon, danger from inside and outside the town threatens everyone.

Anyone can read Harbor Moon and pretty early into the book figure out that the creative talent behind it is new to producing a graphic novel. A reading of the entire text will also tell you something else: when they do get more experience, these creators will be scary because Harbor Moon is a damn good read.

Sometimes, the art, by Pawel Sambor, does not clearly convey the story or action, and the figure drawing is a little awkward in places. For the most part, however, the compositions are exciting, the graphic storytelling electrifying, and the shimmering colors make the art jump off the page.

There are times when a writer telling a mystery story is a bit too vague and oblique in his attempts to string the readers along by keeping them guessing. In Harbor Moon, writers Ryan Colucci and Dikran Ornekian do that to an extent, but their story is still exciting. The first half of Harbor Moon is a sort of detective story rich with suspects and subplots. The second half of this graphic novel explodes in a fury of blood splatter and shocking revelations. From beginning to end, this dark tale is a joyous race.

There are some faults, here and there, but the book rises above them. I guess that the best thing I can say is that I didn’t want Harbor Moon to end.

Readers who like Ben Templesmith and Vertigo comics will want to give Harbor Moon a try.

B+

http://www.harbor-moon.com/

Jacques Tardi Retrospective at Fantagraphics Bookstore March 12 2011

Master French cartoonist Jacques Tardi featured at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, March 12.

 

The work of French cartoonist Jacques Tardi was introduced to American audiences more than three decades ago. His work was championed by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly, who included him in their prestigious RAW anthology in the early 1980s. For the remainder of the century, several North American publishers endeavored to draw attention to Tardi. Yet with the exception of the alternative comics cognoscenti, his work remained marginalized in the United States. Only with the persistence of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books – who have published no fewer than five Tardi titles in the past 2 years – has this acknowledged genius found a substantial American following.

“Better Tardi Than Never: How France's Greatest Living Cartoonist Took a Mere 32 Years to Break Through to American Audiences” examines the life’s work of Jacques Tardi. Organized by Fantagraphics Books co-publisher, editor, and Tardi translator Kim Thompson, the exhibition includes pages from the artist’s earliest English translations dating back to 1977. Thompson began translating Tardi in 1983 with an excerpt from It Was the War of the Trenches in RAW #5. He has been a tireless advocate of this extraordinary artist, translating and publishing his work in several anthologies until American readers finally caught on. The exhibition will include examples of each Tardi translation to reach American soil, along with a narrative explaining the context.

The opening reception on Saturday, March 12 will feature a slide lecture by the show’s curator Kim Thompson at 6:30 PM. “You Don’t Know Jacques. Tardi: 20 Books in 20 Minutes” examines the cartoonist’s career in France. The event will also feature the world premiere of Fantagraphics' fifth Tardi book, the epic “icepunk” tale The Artic Marauder.

The opening on March 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM coincides with the colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic neighborhood. For more information and a map of participants see: www.geogetownartattack.com.

Listing information:
BETTER TARDI THAN NEVER
How France's greatest living cartoonist took a mere 32 years to break through to American audiences.
Curated by Kim Thompson
Opening Saturday, March 12, 6:00 – 9:00 PM

YOU DON'T KNOW JACQUES
Tardi: 20 books in 20 minutes
A slide presentation by Fantagraphics co-publisher, editor and translator Kim Thompson at 6:30 PM on March 12.
http://www.fantagraphics.com/news/bettertardi

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 98108 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM
http://www.fantagraphics.com/

I Reads You Review: TRINITY BLOOD, VOL. 11

Creators: Kiyo Kyujyo (cartoonist) Sunao Yoshida (original story) with Christine Boylan (English adaptation) and Beni Axia Conrad (translation)

Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 188 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1638-2

Action; Rated “OT” for “Older Teen Age 16+”

Trinity Blood was a series of science fiction novels by author Sunao Yoshida who died at the age of 34 before he could finish the series. Trinity Blood takes place in a distant future, after Armageddon and during a time called the Second Moon. A seemingly perpetual war rages between vampires and humans. Using character designs by Thores Shibamoto, manga-ka Kiyo Kyujyo created the Trinity Blood manga.

As Trinity Blood, Vol. 11 begins, Esther Blanchett, the Lady Saint, has joined forces with the rebellious vampire, Scheherazade (“Schera”) al-Rahman. But wait! Schera just attacked Esther! Why has the Lady Saint betrayed the Vatican?

Now, the Vatican is using this supposed betrayal to create another martyr and has sent Monica Argento a.k.a. the Black Widow to the city of Istvan to kill Esther and Schera. Father Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood’s star), at the behest of the young Pope who loves Esther, races to Istvan to save Esther. Many other players, however, plan on joining the chase, but whose side will each new player take?

Some years ago, I read a Trinity Blood manga for the first time. Back then, I’d already seen a few episodes of the Trinity Blood anime and had also read two of Sunao Yoshida’s original novels. Although I enjoyed the manga, Trinity Blood, Vol. 1, I found it wanting compared to the anime and novels. However, I find this 11th volume of the manga to be a huge improvement over that first volume.

First of all, the four chapters found herein (Chapters 39-42) are actually coherent, which is a bit unusual for a franchise that seems to suffer occasionally from narrative wanderlust. While these chapters have the usual palace intrigue and court conspiracies, there are also cool fights and cleverly staged action sequences, including one that is right out of a Hollywood action blockbuster. Plus, Kiyo Kyujyo (who also uses the name Kiyo QJO) creates kinetic art that is as beautiful as ever.

The first time I read a Trinity Blood manga, I didn’t feel the need to read more. Now, I have to hope that Vol. 12 isn’t out of print.

A-

March Explodes with VIZ Media Titles for the iPad

MARCH MANGA MADNESS LAUNCHES FOR THE VIZ MANGA APP FOR THE iPAD

VIZ Manga App Surpasses 100 Volumes Milestone in March; All Volume 1’s Available For Download in March For Only $0.99

VIZ Media continues to rapidly expand its online library of manga (graphic novel) titles available from the FREE VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple® iPad™ mobile device. By the end of March, over 100 volumes will be available for download. To celebrate, a special March-only promotion will launch that makes all Volume 1 manga titles available for only $0.99 (instead of $4.99).

After shopping, also enter to win a $50 iTunes gift card by taking the VIZ Manga App survey. The latest updates for the first week of March feature new additions to 8 of the 16 popular VIZ Media series currently available. More special offers will be announced throughout the month and users should check the App frequently for new announcements.

The VIZ MANGA APP is available for FREE through the iTunes Store and manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. The VIZ MANGA APP also now features a new software upgrade (Version 3.0), which delivers better functionality including bookmarks, improved storage, navigation, and the ability to browse-by-series in the "My Manga" library. Push notifications will also automatically notify users when new volumes of favorite bookmarked titles are added.

Sixteen series are now available on the VIZ Manga App; manga volumes available this week include:

BAKUMAN｡ Vol. 2
BLEACH Vol. 9
CAPTIVE HEARTS Vol. 2
CLAYMORE Vol. 4
D.GRAY MAN Vol. 5
DEATH NOTE Vol. 7
DRAGON BALL Vol. 14
MERUPURI Vol. 2
NARUTO Vol. 15
NATSUME’S BOOK OF FRIENDS Vol. 1
ONE PIECE Vol. 15
OTOMEN Vol. 3
OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 3
RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 7
TORIKO Vol. 2
VAMPIRE KNIGHT Vol. 4

The recently launched VIZ MANGA APP is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPad, with a downloadable library of the most popular manga series in the world. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series for the iPad are featured.

For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, please visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

Entertainment Weekly Reveals Red Skull from Captain America Movie

Entertainment Weekly sent this out:

EW.COM ‘Captain America’ EXCLUSIVE: First look at Red Skull! Plus, director Joe Johnston on why he prefers Cap to a certain man of steel


Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look image from this summer's 'Captain America: The First Avenger' of the ghastly villain Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), along with a Q&A with director Joe Johnston about how Captain America may be the most human of the superheroes, and certainly the most humble — a little guy who remembers what it was like to be pushed around.

See the FULL STORY at EW.com: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/03/captain-america-red-skull-first-look-exclusive/

Leroy Douresseaux on EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS #2

EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS #2

RADICAL PUBLISHING

 

CREATORS: Matt Cirulnick and David Manpearl

WRITERS: M. Zachary Sherman and Matt Cirulnick
ARTIST: Colin Lorimer
COLORS: Kyushik Shin
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
COVER: Alex Maleev
28pp, Color, $3.50

Hollywood types Matt Cirulnick and David Manpearl have created a new comic book miniseries for Radical Publishing. Earp: Saints for Sinners is a modern-day re-imagining of the classic Western hero, Wyatt Earp.

It is set in the near future and takes place after an event called “Black Thirty” sets off a second Great Depression. Out of the chaos of that economic meltdown, there arose a new type of bank robber. Wyatt Earp was the man who brought this new breed to justice. He shot down the ones he didn’t bring in. Earp collared more most-wanted men than anyone in history. After a violent assignment claimed the life of his brother, Virgil Earp, Wyatt became a businessman in the only boomtown left in America, Las Vegas.

In Earp: Saints for Sinners #2, the tension rises as Robin Hood takes on John Flynn, billionaire owner of the Flynn Casino. Allan Pinkerton and his private security group, the Pinkertons want Wyatt Earp to pay them protection money for his business, AOK Saloon. A woman named Josie Marcus enters the stage, where she will become a reason for conflict between the men.

If you still aren’t confused by the constant use of flashback in Earp: Saints for Sinners, you will love this violent modern-day, quasi-science fiction twist on Wyatt Earp. Full of tough guys, hardened criminals, and scantily clad women, however, this Earp comic book is more Michael Mann than it is John Ford. Colorful and fast-paced, one minor thing wrong with this is that it doesn’t seem fit the floppy, standard-sized comic book format. This is a graphic novel and should be published as one hardcover graphic novel.

B+

Kurozakuro and Ogre Burgers

I read Kurozakuro, Vol. 3

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