DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

DC COMICS

MAR118256 ACTION COMICS #900 2ND PTG (NOTE PRICE) $5.99

MAR110274 ACTION COMICS #901 (DOOMSDAY) $2.99

MAR110383 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #15 (MR) $2.99

JAN110418 AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 02 (MR) $24.99

FEB110237 BATMAN BRAVE AND THE BOLD EMERALD KNIGHT TP $12.99

MAR110369 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #60 $2.99

MAR110338 DC COMICS PRESENTS GREEN LANTERN WILLWORLD #1 $7.99

MAR110298 DETECTIVE COMICS #877 $2.99

JAN110412 DV8 GODS AND MONSTERS TP $17.99

APR100332 GOD OF WAR SER 1 HADES AF PI

APR100329 GOD OF WAR SER 1 HERCULES AF PI

APR100331 GOD OF WAR SER 1 KRATOS AF PI

APR100330 GOD OF WAR SER 1 ZEUS AF PI

MAR110305 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #23 $2.99

MAR110282 GREEN ARROW #12 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

MAR110267 GREEN LANTERN #66 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

MAR110269 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #60 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

JAN110336 GREEN LANTERN CORPS REVOLT OF ALPHA LANTERNS HC $22.99

MAR110271 GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #10 (WAR OF GL) $2.99

FEB110258 HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 06 SAFE AS HOUSES (MR) $14.99

MAR110374 INFAMOUS #6 (OF 6) $2.99

FEB110208 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL TP VOL 06 $24.99

MAR110325 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #51 $2.99

MAR110379 STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 (MR) $7.99

FEB110250 TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM TP $17.99

FEB110269 UNKNOWN SOLDIER TP VOL 04 BEAUTIFUL WORLD (MR) $14.99

MAR110333 XOMBI #3 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

MARVEL COMICS

MAR110773 5 RONIN HC AJA CVR DM VAR ED $19.99

MAR110772 5 RONIN HC CASSADAY CVR $19.99

MAR110666 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #662 $3.99

MAR110670 ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN WOLVERINE #6 (OF 6) $3.99

MAR110651 CAPTAIN AMERICA #618 $3.99

MAR110758 CAPTAIN AMERICA MAN OUT OF TIME PREM HC $19.99

MAR110757 CAPTAIN AMERICA OFF INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE GN TP $24.99

MAR110789 CHAOS WAR X-MEN TP $15.99

MAR110738 DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #9 POINT ONE $2.99

MAR110711 DEADPOOL #37 $2.99

MAR110765 EMMA FROST ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP $34.99

JAN118132 FEAR ITSELF BOOK OF THE SKULL 2ND PTG VAR (PP #968) $3.99

MAR110685 FF #4 $2.99

MAR110675 INCREDIBLE HULKS #629 $2.99

MAR110782 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 07 MY MONSTERS $19.99

MAR110626 IRON MAN 2.0 #5 FEAR $2.99

MAR110760 MARVELS PROJECT BIRTH OF SUPER HEROES TP $29.99

MAR110659 MIGHTY THOR #2 $3.99

MAR110753 MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 02 $24.99

MAR110754 MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 02 DM VAR ED 29 $24.99

DEC100640 MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 10 $54.99

DEC100641 MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 10 DM VAR ED 158 $54.99

MAR110766 MYSTIQUE BY BRIAN K VAUGHAN ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP $24.99

MAR110740 NAMOR FIRST MUTANT #10 $2.99

MAR110701 ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED #4 (OF 4) $3.99

MAR110630 ORSON SCOTT CARDS SPEAKER FOR DEAD #5 (OF 5) $3.99

MAR110632 PIXAR PRESENTS CARS #1 $5.99

MAR110702 POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #5 (OF 5) $2.99

MAR110799 PUNISHER IN BLOOD TP $16.99

MAR110804 RUNAWAYS TP VOL 04 TRUE BELIEVERS DIGEST NEW PTG $9.99

MAR110634 RUSE #3 (OF 4) $2.99

MAR110622 SECRET AVENGERS #13 FEAR $3.99

MAR110703 SECRET WARRIORS #27 $2.99

MAR110667 SPIDER-GIRL #7 $2.99

MAR110677 SPIDER-MAN #14 $2.99

MAR110705 SUPREME POWER MGC #1 $1.00

MAR110764 THUNDERSTRIKE TP YOUTH IN REVOLT $14.99

MAR110755 ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC $19.99

MAR110786 ULTIMATE WAR PREM HC $19.99

MAR110724 UNCANNY X-MEN #537 $3.99

MAR110661 VENOM #3 $2.99

MAR110725 WOLVERINE #9 $3.99

MAR110729 X-MEN EARTH'S MUTANT HEROES #1 $4.99

MAR110807 X-MEN GIANT-SIZE BY ED MCGUINNESS POSTER $8.99

MAR110733 X-MEN LEGACY #249 $2.99

MAR110722 X-MEN SPOTLIGHT $3.99

IDW from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR110455 ANGEL YEARBOOK ONE SHOT $7.99

MAR110421 COBRA ONGOING #1 $3.99

FEB110368 DEEP SLEEPER HC $21.99

MAR110482 DOC MACABRE HC $17.99

MAR110476 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #5 $3.99

MAR110467 DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS #7 $3.99

MAR110488 GEORGE RR MARTINS DOORWAYS HC $21.99

MAR110450 GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #3 $3.99

MAR110483 GUTWRENCHER TP $19.99

MAR110454 KILL SHAKESPEARE #11 (OF 12) $3.99

FEB110364 SUICIDE GIRLS #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

JAN110537 TOP 100 SCI FI MOVIES SC $24.99

MAR110430 TRANSFORMERS HEART OF DARKNESS #3 $3.99

MAR110460 TRUE BLOOD TAINTED LOVE #4 (MR) $3.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB110041 AL CAPP COMPLETE SHMOO HC VOL 02 NEWSPAPER STRIPS $49.99

JAN118082 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 10 SECRETS NEW PTG $16.99

FEB110034 CONAN ROAD OF KINGS #5 (OF 6) $3.50

JAN110132 GHOST TALKERS DAYDREAM TP VOL 06 $10.99

JAN110139 GOON W/ LOGO WOMENS T/S MED $24.99

MAR110021 KING CONAN SCARLET CITADEL #4 $3.50

OCT100032 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #4 (OF 4) $3.50

FEB110020 MIGHTY SAMSON #3 $3.50

MAR110016 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & LOST COMMAND #5 (OF 5) $3.50

MAR110015 STAR WARS LEGACY WAR #6 (OF 6) $3.50

MAR110032 STRANGE CASE OF MR HYDE #2 (OF 4) $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

IMAGE COMICS

MAR110569 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #2 (OF 4) CVR A NAT JONES $3.99

MAR110570 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #2 (OF 4) CVR B NAT JONES & JAY FOTOS $3.99

MAR118139 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #2 VAR CVR 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

MAR110573 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #3 (MR) $2.99

MAR110574 CARBON GREY #3 (MR) $2.99

MAR110576 DAOMU #4 (MR) $2.99

MAR110582 HACK SLASH #4 CVR A SEELEY & BADILLA (MR) $3.50

MAR110583 HACK SLASH #4 CVR B JONES (MR) $3.50

MAR118184 IMAGE FIRSTS DYNAMO 5 #1 (PP #968) $1.00

MAR118183 IMAGE FIRSTS ULTRA #1 (PP #968) $1.00

MAR110593 MISSION #4 $2.99

MAR110598 SKULLKICKERS #7 $2.99

MAR110601 SUPER DINOSAUR #2 $2.99

MAR110532 TATTERED MAN ONE SHOT (MR) $4.99

MAR110603 WALKING DEAD #85 (MR) $2.99

MAR118194 WALKING DEAD #85 KETNER VAR CVR (MR) $2.99

MAR110556 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR LRG $24.99

MAR110555 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR MED $24.99

MAR110554 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR SM $24.99

MAR110557 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR XL $24.99

MAR110558 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR XXL $27.99

MAR110608 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #21 (MR) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

COMICS

MAR111388 ALTER EGO #101 $7.95

MAR110959 AMORY WARS KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 #11 (OF 12) $3.99

MAR111191 ANTHOLOGY PROJECT HC VOL 01 (O/A) (MR) $24.99

MAR111190 ANTHOLOGY PROJECT HC VOL 02 (MR) $29.95

NOV100923 APPROXIMATE CONTINUUM COMICS GN $18.99

MAR110865 ARCHIE #621 $2.99

MAR111185 ARISA GN VOL 02 $10.99

MAR111343 BEAUTY AND SQUAT BEARS HC $14.99

MAR111173 BLACKSMITH GN (RES) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

MAR111174 BOOK OF LILAH GN (RES) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

APR110828 CALIGULA #1 (OF 6) AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

MAR111048 CHARLAINE HARRIS GRAVE SIGHT GN VOL 01 (OF 3) $7.99

DEC101120 CHARMED #9 A CVR SEIDMAN $3.50

DEC101121 CHARMED #9 B CVR PHOTO $3.50

FEB111110 CLASSICS ILLUS HC VOL 13 IVANHOE $9.99

JAN111236 CLONK GN VOL 01 $19.95

AUG100795 CROSSED 3D GN VOL 01 (MR) $8.99

APR110824 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #2 (OF 7) AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

NOV100917 DF DAREDEVIL REBORN #1 ROMITA SR SGN ED PI

MAR110998 DUCKTALES #1 $3.99

FEB111104 DUNGEON MONSTRES GN VOL 04 NIGHT O/T LADYKILLER $14.99

MAR111203 ELEPHANT MAN GN (O/A) $9.99

MAR111175 ENDANGERED GN (RES) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

MAR110822 EVEN THE GIANTS GN (MR) $9.95

FEB111009 FAFNER DEAD AGGRESSOR GN VOL 02 (RES) $9.95

MAR111182 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 13 $10.99

MAR111333 FORGET SORROW AN ANCESTRAL TALE SC $15.95

MAR110946 FUTURAMA COMICS #55 $2.99

FEB111203 GENTE TP VOL 03 (OF 3) $12.99

FEB111113 GERONIMO STILTON HC VOL 01 DISCOVERY OF AMERICA (O/A) $9.99

MAR111352 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 A CVR BASALDUA $5.99

MAR111353 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 B CVR SUYDAM $5.99

MAR111354 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 C CVR CHEN & EMBURY $5.99

FEB111230 GFT PRES TALES FROM NEVERLAND #1 (OF 3) A CVR AL RIO $4.99

FEB111231 GFT PRES TALES FROM NEVERLAND #1 (OF 3) B CVR PEKAR $4.99

FEB111008 GREAT PLACE HIGH SCHOOL GN VOL 02 S COUNCIL (MR) $12.95

MAR111033 HACK SLASH EVA MONSTERS BALL #1 (MR) $3.99

FEB110845 HELLRAISER #2 (MR) $3.99

NOV100701 HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK SUPERSIZE TP $24.99

MAR110971 INCORRUPTIBLE #18 $3.99

MAR111334 INFLUENCING MACHINE HC $23.95

APR110835 KANNAGI GN VOL 01 (OF 6) $10.99

NOV100885 KATO ORIGINS #9 THE HELLFIRE CLUB $3.99

MAR111016 KIRBY GENESIS #0 $1.00

FEB111004 LA BANKS VAMPIRE HUNTRESS TP VOL 01 $16.99

APR110920 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #2 AUXILIARY $3.99

FEB110734 LUCID HC $19.95

JAN111225 MEDITERRANEA #4 (OF 14) $2.99

MAR111279 MEGA MAN GIGAMIX TP VOL 01 $12.95

FEB110728 MERCY SPARX TP (ARCANA ED) VOL 01 $14.95

JAN111321 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 19 DOUBLE AGENT (RES) $19.95

MAR111186 NEGIMA GN VOL 29 (MR) $10.99

DEC100764 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

DEC100765 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC100766 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC100978 ONE #4 (OF 5) $2.99

JUL100754 PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR #3 (OF 4) $3.95

MAR110982 PLANET OF THE APES #2 $3.99

DEC100979 ROUTE DES MAISONS ROUGES #4 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

FEB111205 SATURN APARTMENTS TP VOL 03 $12.99

MAR111184 SHUGO CHARA GN VOL 10 $10.99

MAR110948 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #5 $4.99

JAN111226 SKELETON STORY #4 (OF 5) $2.99

MAR111233 SLAINE THE HORNED GOD HC (S&S ED) $25.00

FEB111112 SMURFS GN VOL 06 SMURFS & HOWLIBIRD $5.99

FEB111111 SMURFS HC VOL 06 SMURFS & HOWLIBIRD $10.99

MAR110987 STAN LEE SOLDIER ZERO #1 VAR SET $99.99

MAR110990 STAN LEE TRAVELER #7 $3.99

MAR111130 TAKE A JOKE TP $18.99

MAR111010 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #68 (MR) $2.95

FEB111005 THAT WAS GOOD GN (MR) $12.95

APR111087 TINTIN YOUNG READERS ED GN SECRET OF THE UNICORN $8.99

FEB111007 TYRANT FALLS IN LOVE GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.95

MAR111002 UNCLE SCROOGE MESSES BECOME SUCCESSES TP $9.99

MAR111204 VATICAN HUSTLE GN (O/A) $11.95

MAR111176 WARD 6 GN (RES) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

DEC100733 WARSTONE GN $9.95

MAR111128 YEAH GN $19.99

FEB111006 YOUR STORY IVE KNOWN GN (MR) $12.95

JAN111083 ZFW ZOMBIES OF FOREIGN WARS #1 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES
JAN111442 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #28 $13.99
MAR111420 HORRORHOUND #29 $6.99
MAR111453 LOCUS #604 $6.95
MAR111386 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 22 #3 $5.99

I Reads You Review: BLADE #9

BLADE (2006) #9
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Marc Guggenheim
ARTIST: Howard Chaykin
COLORIST: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC’s Rus Wooton
COVER: Marko Djurdjevic
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S., $3.75 CAN

“The Big Fight”

Several years ago, Marvel Comics launched a new comic book starring Blade, their vampire hunter who first appeared in the 1970s horror comic book series, The Tomb of Dracula (#10, July 1973). Of course, Blade is best known for the trilogy of films starring Wesley Snipes as Blade. Marvel has had, at best, mixed success with Blade comic book series. [Although an African-American (Snipes) was the star and co-producer of the Blade film franchise, Marvel has never allowed an African-American to write or draw a Blade comic book series.]

Debuting in 2006, the most recent Blade series was written by television writer-producer, Marc Guggenheim and drawn by Howard Chaykin, a longtime industry veteran writer and artist, best known for the highly influential 1980s comic book, American Flagg! (although Chaykin has also been a television writer-producer). Guggenheim’s take on Blade was closer to the character in the comics than the one in the movies, and the series ran for 12 issues, much of it having to do with Blade’s origin.

Blade #9 finds Eric Brooks, a.k.a. Blade in London delving into his later mother, Tara Brooks’ past to discover her connection and his possible connection to the Order of Tyrana. The apparent head of this group is Lucas Cross, the man claiming to be Blade’s father. Meanwhile, at a London hotel, Union Jack, a vampire hunter, launches an attack on Blade’s colleague, vampire detective Hannibal King.

Evan as a back issue, Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin’s Blade comic book still feels fresh and new. Guggenheim wrote each issue as a self-contained story. While each issue is connected to a larger narrative, it can be read, comprehended, and enjoyed without reading other issues. Visually and graphically, Chaykin infused Blade with a sense of humor, irony, and a touch of satire.

Blade #9 epitomizes what Guggenheim and Chaykin did so well with the entirety of their Blade comic book series, and that was the creation of a serial drama in which each chapter was important unto itself. An individual issue did not need the overall story arc to validate it. This allowed readers to pick up any issue and get both a complete reading experience and the Blade experience.