Digital Manga Launches Project-H (H as in Hentai)

Project-H Launches in August!

Gardena, CA (July 20, 2011) - Digital Manga inc. is proud to announce the launch of our latest imprint: PROJECT-H!

Project-H is a special publishing imprint, http://www.projecth-books.com/, powered by 801 Media. The titles are explicit Seinen Hentai manga with the age rating M 18+. The first three titles to be released are Riosuke Yasui’s Shocking Pink! (Aug 24th), Hiroshi Itaba’s Three P (Oct 20th), and KUON Michiyoshi’s Embrace and Bloom (Nov23rd)!

Pre-orders for the two books are available now through Akadot Retail, akadot.com, and for wholesale through Digital Manga Direct , http://www.dmd-sales.com/

SHOCKING PINK! written and illustrated by Riosuke Yasui - Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: August 24, 2011*Available for Pre-order Now!

When a girl claiming to be the descendent of Lui Bei, the founding emperor of the Shu Han state of the ancient Three Kingdoms of China, approaches you because your name is almost identical to said emperor's chancellor and prize strategist, what is a boy to do? Especially when she is very attractive and really, really, really wants you to become her royal strategist as she carves out her destiny? Join in the romp of course, and enjoy the delights offered along the way!

THREE P written and illustrated by Hiroshi Itaba - Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: October 20, 2011 *Available for Pre-order TBA

Come and check out the 3 sizzling hot college co-eds: Reika, Sara and Mizume. Reika – she looks conservative, like a girl next door, but watch out! She’s the wild one! She always gets what she wants! Sara – men just don’t know how to say “no” to her pretty cute face! And Mizume – is the beautiful one and she plays hard-to-get with men. These gal pals have no secrets from each other! They talk about their boyfriend problems, sex problems and compare notes! What would you do if you found out that your boyfriend is cheating on you? Would you be mad or would ask them if you can join them for a threesome? They’ll show you how to have fun! This oneshot contains 9 short stories of these 3 co-eds having lots of naughty sex!

EMBRACE & BLOOM written and illustrated by Kuon Michiyoshi - Rated M (Ages 18+), 5″ x 7.2″, MSRP: $17.95 US, $19.99 CAD, Available: November 23, 2011 *Available for Pre-order TBA

This anthology features works about hot & steamy sexcapade of nine delicious young ladies who aim to please and be pleased. Lots of erotic scenes to get your senses tickled! Come and check out which one of the nine you like the best!

*Pre-orders available through Digital Manga Direct, DMI’s Publisher’s Direct program. Please visit our website at http://www.dmd-sales.com/ to make an account and an order.

Follow us on twitter @projectHbooks
Find us on Facebook: PROJECT-H BOOKS
Contact us at: contact@projecth-books.com


About Digital Manga Publishing
Located in Gardena, CA, Digital Manga Publishing is one of the industry's most unconventional and innovative companies, specializing in building corporate and cultural bridges from Japan to the Western Hemisphere - specifically through the licensing, importation and preparation of anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books) and related merchandise for the North American mainstream and subculture markets. In this capacity, DMI serves as a catalyst for the expansion of Japanese pop culture institutions into global arenas. The company's imprint line includes DMP: its mainstream imprint, DMP PLATINUM: its classic manga imprint, JUNE´: its boys love imprint, 801 MEDIA: its adult boys love imprint, DokiDoki: its exclusive co-publishing imprint with Shinshokan Publishing, Project-H: its Seinen Hentai manga imprint powered by 801 Media, and DMG: its own digital distribution initiative.

For more information about Digital Manga Publishing, visit http://www.digitalmanga.com/ as well as:

http://www.emanga.com/
http://twitter.com/digitalmanga
http://www.youtube.com/user/junemanga
http://www.youtube.com/user/801media
http://www.youtube.com/user/digitalmanga
http://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc

Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Reviewed

I reviewed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 over at Negromancer.  Go. Read. Enjoy.

Leroy Douresseaux on RED SPIKE #3

RED SPIKE #3 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS/BENAROYA PUBLISHING

CREATORS: Michael Benaroya and Jeff Cahn
SCRIPT: Jeff Cahn
ARTISTS: Salvador Navarro and Mark Texeira
COLORS: Ifansyah Noor of Imaginary Friends Studios
LETTERS: John Aitken
COVER: Mark Texeira
28pp, Color, $2.99

My introduction to the comic books of Benaroya Publishing continues with Red Spike, created by Michael Benaroya and Jeff Cahn. Red Spike, a science fiction and action comic book miniseries, follows a group of people involved with Red Spike, a black ops program. Red Spike is a system that exposes young men to chemicals and brain surgery that turns them into super-soldiers. It’s an interesting concept.

As Red Spike #3 begins, readers get back story on the good-boy super-soldier, Matt Cutler. Colonel Moyer, who controls Red Spike, sends Matt on a mission to bring in Greg Dane, who entered the program with Cutler. Dane has gone rogue and is determined not to be brought back to Red Spike. Meanwhile, Dr. Margaret Downey, a scientist in the program, begins to investigate why Greg rebelled.

While it seems to borrow from other comic books and even movies, Red Spike has the kind of rock solid plotting found in tightly-written, big-budget action movies. Red Spike has elements of Captain American and the Jason Bourne films, but it most reminds me of Universal Soldier, the 1992 Van Damme film. Like the Van Damme films from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Red Spike is violent and testosterone-filled, but with a humanist lead character who fights because he must. This comic book would be nothing but a hoary cliché, if not for the storytelling. Jeff Cahn’s scriptwriting is patient, and that shows in a well-thought out plot and script.

The art by Salvador Navarro and Mark Texeira (I’m not sure who does what) is acceptable in that it tells the story. Other than that, it is mediocre – stiff figure drawing, unimaginative compositions, and bland page design. I found the story quite likeable, but the uninspired art put a damper on my enjoyment.

B

Heavy Metal Joins Imaginary Friends Studios at Comic-Con 2011 International

HEAVY METAL TO UNVEIL SPECIAL IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS EDITION AT SDCC

Heavy Metal, the premiere magazine for fantasy and science fiction, is proud to announce a special edition that will feature the artists of Imaginary Friends Studios. Set for mass release in September 2011, Heavy Metal will also be presenting a limited edition version at San Diego Comic-Con 2011 with a wraparound cover from IFS co-founder Stanley “Artgerm” Lau.

Based in Singapore and Jakarta with a stable of 30 full-time digital artists, Imaginary Friends Studios has worked on such familiar titles as Dragonlance Chronicles, Powergirl, Batman, Spiderman, Justice League, Superman, Exalted, Witchblade, Contra 4, Front Mission, Everquest, DOTA, World of Warcraft, Warhammer, Street Fighter 3 & 4, Planetside 2, Sleepy Hollow, Star Wars Galaxies, Sideshow Collectibles, Magic the Gathering, as well as promotional and licensing material for major motion pictures including Spiderman 3, The Dark Knight and Green Lantern.

Prior to Heavy Metal, Imaginary Friends Studios has had features in publications 2D Artist, ImagineFX, Advanced Photoshop, Fantasy Art China and international art annuals such as Spectrum and Expose. The studio was even featured separately in FHM South Africa and FHM Singapore, in addition to appearances on television shows, radio segments and news programs.

“This has to be the most exciting project of the year for my beloved Imaginary Friends Studios.” States Imaginary Friends Studios co-founder, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau. “We are proud to announce our collaboration with world renowned magazine Heavy Metal, for a special issue which was completely done by our studios from Singapore & Indonesia. Heavy Metal has always been the premium platform to showcase creative and artistic talent in the industry and we are thankful that Kevin has entrusted us with this precious opportunity.”

Heavy Metal publisher, Kevin Eastman adds, " I am a huge fan of the Imaginary Friends Studio and suggested a featured Gallery on them to guest editor Dave Elliott--what I got was the chance to showcase their legendary talent in an ENTIRE issue of Heavy Metal Magazine! Talk about winning the lottery!"


ABOUT HEAVY METAL
Since first publication in the U.S. in 1977, Heavy Metal stands today as the world's foremost adult illustrated fantasy magazine, having two animated feature films. Heavy Metal's resume of luminary creators include William S. Burroughs, Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, John Shirley, H.R. Giger, Luis Royo, Walter Simonson, Jim Steranko, Moebuis, Caza, Esteban Maroto, Arthur Suydam, Dan Steffan, Enki Bilal, Bernie Wrightson and many more. Heavy Metal magazine is published and edited by acclaimed writer and artist Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). For more information, please visit http://www.heavymetal.com/.

ABOUT IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
Imaginary Friends Studios is founded by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, one of the top artists on Deviantart.com with close to 6 million page views; Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim, a game designer who worked previously at a Tokyo-based game studio; and Kai “Ukitakumuki” Lim, who at 19 had already art directed two major game mods for Half-Life 2 including Hull Breach and Nuclear Dawn.

Imaginary is much more than a concept art, comics and illustration studio. With its “By-artists-for-artists” mantra and its small but ever-increasing cult-like online fan following, Imaginary truly represents a next-gen creative approach to the creative business by hot-housing its established and fresh new talents, delivering creative services and content to a global audience. For more information, please visit http://www.imaginaryfs.com/.

Carl Gibson on ALEC

ALEC: Democracy's Arch-Nemesis
By Carl Gibson, Reader Supported News
18 July 11

Reader Supported News Perspective

In an 1864 letter to Col. William F. Elkins, Abraham Lincoln warned, "... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

In the buildup to the bloodiest war of the 20th century, Benito Mussolini said, "Fascism should rightly be called corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power." He is one of history's most reviled characters for good reason.

Now, corporations like Koch Industries are funneling money into the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a shadowy partnership between Republican legislators and corporate lobbyists. Essentially, ALEC's purpose is to pass laws that enrich corporate profits and investor returns by starving the government of revenue, rigging elections and union-busting.

Unlike the strictly bipartisan National Council of State Legislatures, ALEC's membership is rabidly partisan, with 103 Republicans and 1 Democrat. 98% of ALEC's funding comes from corporations, whereas NCSL is funded almost entirely through legislative dues. And though NCSL shares its views and advice on certain policy, it doesn't write legislation and forbids corporate influence on its activities.

ALEC provides "model bills" to state legislatures, all of which are previously seen by ALEC's corporate board. These model bills are aimed at taking the teeth out of government regulation, giving lavish tax breaks to the wealthy, and using the resulting budget deficits to privatize institutions like schools and prisons. These bills are introduced in multiple statehouses with no required disclosure about an outside group of corporate lobbyists originally crafting the legislation. Some of ALEC's notable alumni include Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Governor Scott Walker.

Some of ALEC's model budget bills would repeal capital gains taxes and estate taxes, fattening the pockets of millionaire hedge-fund managers and trust-fund brats while putting public goods and services under the knife. ALEC's 1995 "Sound Federal Fiscal Policy Resolution" falsely antagonizes higher taxes as the source of higher deficits (instead of the aforementioned tax breaks for the wealthy). This would steer lawmakers toward needless budget cuts that systematically starve the states of jobs and tax dollars, blow massive holes in the budget and create whopping revenue shortfalls.

ALEC's "Legislative Budget Audit Commission Act" would establish a panel in the event of one of these pre-packaged revenue shortfalls, tasked with specifically recommend privatizing or eliminating state agencies, and to present these proposals on January 15. Effectively, this bill would steer all initial legislative business, using revenue shortages as an excuse to eliminate public programs and public workers' rights to organize under the guise of "government efficiency."

By creating a unique legal grey area between lobbying for laws and writing laws, ALEC has enabled the plundering of our state coffers, leaving our tax dollars and public services at the mercy of corporate executives who aren't held accountable by the democratic process. ALEC is big business' tool to circumvent democracy, letting those with the most money write their own laws.

We should heed both Lincoln's and Mussolini's words, and not be afraid to point out fascism when we see it. ALEC's work is an affront to democracy, and its legislation must be soundly rejected in all statehouses if Lincoln's vision of the Republic is to prevail.

Carl Gibson, 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, is a spokesman and organizer for US Uncut, a nonviolent, creative direct-action movement to stop budget cuts by getting corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism before starting the first US Uncut group in Jackson, Mississippi, in February of 2011. Since then, over 20,000 US Uncut activists have carried out more than 300 actions in over 100 cities nationwide.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

Ooku: The Inner Chambers - Mama's Boy

I read Ôoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 6

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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 20 2011

DC COMICS

MAY110203 BATMAN #712 $2.99

MAY110206 BATMAN GATES OF GOTHAM #3 (OF 5) $2.99

NOV100291 BATMAN RTN BRUCE WAYNE SER 1 HIGH SEAS BATMAN AF PI

NOV100293 BATMAN RTN BRUCE WAYNE SER 1 PREHISTORIC BATMAN AF PI

NOV100294 BATMAN RTN BRUCE WAYNE SER 1 WILD WEST BATMAN AF PI

NOV100292 BATMAN RTN BRUCE WAYNE SER 1 WITCH HUNTER BATMAN AF PI

APR110197 BLACKEST NIGHT BLACK LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 01 $19.99

APR110198 BLACKEST NIGHT BLACK LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 02 $19.99

MAY110287 CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

MAY110236 DC COMICS PRESENTS THE METAL MEN #1 $7.99

MAY110192 DC RETROACTIVE BATMAN THE 70S #1 $4.99

MAY110195 DC RETROACTIVE THE FLASH THE 70S #1 $4.99

MAY110193 DC RETROACTIVE WONDER WOMAN THE 70S #1 $4.99

MAY110185 DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #12 $2.99

NOV100296 DC UNIVERSE ONLINE STATUE BLACK CANARY $85.00

NOV100295 DC UNIVERSE ONLINE STATUE THE FLASH $85.00

MAY110276 DEUS EX #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

MAY110291 DMZ #67 (MR) $2.99

MAY118137 FLASHPOINT #1 (OF 5) 3RD PTG $3.99

MAY110175 FLASHPOINT DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #2 (OF 3) $2.99

MAY110176 FLASHPOINT LEGION OF DOOM #2 (OF 3) $2.99

MAY110178 FLASHPOINT THE OUTSIDER #2 (OF 3) $2.99

MAY110174 FLASHPOINT WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #2 (OF 3) $2.99

OCT100343 GREEN LANTERN 1/4 SCALE POWER BATTERY & RING PROP $35.00

MAY110292 HELLBLAZER #281 (MR) $2.99

DEC100327 HEROES OF THE DCU BLACK LANTERN FIRESTORM BUST $70.00

MAY110186 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #59 $2.99

MAY110221 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #15 $2.99

MAY110228 POWER GIRL #26 $2.99

MAY110225 SPIRIT #16 $2.99

MAY110216 SUPERGIRL #66 $2.99

MAY110217 SUPERMAN BATMAN #86 $2.99

MAY110229 THUNDER AGENTS #9 $2.99

MAY110271 TINY TITANS #42 $2.99

MAY110233 TITANS #37 $2.99

MAY110156 WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS AFTERMATH #1 (OF 2) $3.99

APR110232 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE TP $17.99

MAY110235 ZATANNA #15 $2.99