Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

MARVEL COMICS

JUL110760 ALPHA FLIGHT CLASSIC TP VOL 02 $29.99

JUL118071 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #668 2ND PTG RAMOS VAR SPI $3.99

JUL110620 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #670 SPI $3.99

JUL110669 ANNIHILATORS EARTHFALL #1 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL110681 ASTONISHING X-MEN #42 $3.99

JUL110581 AVENGERS ACADEMY #19 FEAR $2.99

JUL110751 AVENGERS PRIME TP $16.99

JUL110663 BLACK PANTHER MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE #523 POINT ONE $2.99

MAY110707 BRILLIANT #1 (MR) $3.95

JUL110643 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #622 $2.99

APR110705 CAPTAIN BRITAIN HC VOL 02 SIEGE OF CAMELOT $39.99

JUL110726 CASTLE PREM HC RICHARD CASTLES DEADLY STORM $19.99

JUL110730 DEADPOOL PREM HC VOL 08 OPERATION ANNIHILATION $19.99

JUL110702 DEADPOOLMAX #12 (OF 12) (MR) $3.99

JUL110614 DOROTHY AND WIZARD IN OZ #1 (OF 8) $3.99

JUL110725 EMMA PREM HC $19.99

JUL118147 ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP 01 NEW ED $19.99

JUL110765 ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS TP VOL 06 $19.99

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JUL110664 FF #9 $2.99

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JUL110622 HERC #8 SPI $2.99

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JUL110645 IRON MAN 2.0 #9 $2.99

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FEB110639 KICK-ASS 2 #4 (MR) $2.99

JUL110646 MIGHTY THOR #6 $3.99

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JUL110659 MUPPETS PRESENTS FAMILY REUNION $5.99

JUL110758 NAM TP VOL 03 $29.99

JUL110633 NEW AVENGERS #16 POINT ONE $2.99

JUL110582 NEW MUTANTS #31 FEAR $2.99

JUL110763 OFF HANDBOOK OF MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z TP VOL 01 $19.99

JUL118172 SECRET AVENGERS #16 2ND PTG VAR (PP #987) $3.99

JUL110634 SECRET AVENGERS #17 $3.99

JUL110738 SHADOWLAND BLOOD ON STREETS TP $15.99

JUL110739 SHADOWLAND POWER MAN TP $15.99

JUL110742 SIGIL TP OUT OF TIME $14.99

JUL110626 SPIDER-ISLAND DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU #2 (OF 3) SPI $2.99

JUL110657 SPIDER-MAN #18 $2.99

JUL110764 STRANGE TALES II TP $19.99

JUL110731 ULTIMATE AVENGERS VS NEW ULTIMATES DOSM PREM HC $24.99

JUL110746 ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES THOR REBORN TP $19.99

JUL110607 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #2 $3.99

JUL110610 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #2 $3.99

JUL118170 UNCANNY X-FORCE #13 2ND PTG VAR (PP #987) $3.99

JUL118171 UNCANNY X-FORCE #14 2ND PTG VAR (PP #987) $3.99

JUL118070 VENOM #5 2ND PTG MOORE VAR (PP #986) $2.99

JUL110629 VENOM #7 SPI $2.99

JUL110692 WOLVERINE #16 $3.99

JUL110696 WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS #10 $3.99

JUL118156 X-MEN #16 2ND PTG MOLINA VAR $3.99

JUL110700 X-MEN LEGACY #256 $2.99

JUL118173 X-MEN SCHISM #3 (OF 5) 2ND PTG VAR (PP #987) $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL110380 CRAWL TO ME #3 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL110399 DEADWORLD LAST SIESTA GN $14.99

JUL110364 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #9 $3.99

JUL110355 DUKE NUKEM GLORIOUS BASTARD #3 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL110363 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FORGOTTEN REALMS TP VOL 02 $24.99

JUL110359 DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS #11 $3.99

JUL110319 GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING #1 (C: 1) $3.99

JUL110332 GI JOE VOL 2 ONGOING #5 $3.99

JUL110350 GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #7 $3.99

JUN110469 IN THE SHADOW OF DRACULA SC NOVEL $16.99

JUL110334 SNAKE EYES ONGOING (IDW) #5 $3.99

JUL110385 SUICIDE GIRLS TP VOL 01 $19.99

JUL110312 TRUE BLOOD FRENCH QUARTER #2 (OF 6) $3.99

JUL110315 TRUE BLOOD HC VOL 02 TAINTED LOVE $24.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL110023 ABE SAPIEN DEVIL DOES NOT JEST #1 JOHNSON CVR $3.50

JUL110021 ANGEL & FAITH #2 REBEKAH ISSACS VAR CVR $2.99

JUL110020 ANGEL & FAITH #2 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

MAY110051 BERSERK TP VOL 35 $14.99

MAY110049 FINDER LIBRARY TP VOL 02 $24.99

JUL110115 MUMMY BOY T/S GRAY LG (O/A) $17.99

JUL110114 MUMMY BOY T/S GRAY MED (O/A) $17.99

JUL110100 PIN CUSHION QUEEN CAP SLEEVE BABYDOLL T/S WHITE W/ RED LG (O/A) $34.00

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JUL110110 TIM BURTON STAIN BOY T/S LG (O/A) $17.99

JUL110109 TIM BURTON STAIN BOY T/S MED (O/A) $17.99

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JUL110105 TIM BURTON TOXIC BOY L/S T/S LG (O/A) $36.00

JUL110103 TIM BURTON TOXIC BOY L/S T/S SM (O/A) $36.00

JUL110106 TIM BURTON TOXIC BOY L/S T/S XL (O/A) $36.00

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

IMAGE COMICS

APR110489 ARTIFACTS #10 (OF 13) CVR A SEJIC $3.99

APR110490 ARTIFACTS #10 (OF 13) CVR B CHRISTOPHER $3.99

MAR110517 ARTIFACTS #4 (OF 13) PORTACIO B&W EXC VAR CVR $10.00

FEB110492 ARTIFACTS VOL 01 SIGNED ED TP $19.99

JUL110511 AVENGELYNE #3 CVR A LIEFELD $2.99

JUL110512 AVENGELYNE #3 CVR B GIENI $2.99

MAY110442 BOMB QUEEN GANG BANG TP (MR) $14.99

JUL110514 BREED III #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

JUL110517 DAOMU #7 (MR) $2.99

FEB110498 DARKNESS COMPENDIUM EDITION TP NEW PTG $69.99

JUN110539 ELEPHANTMEN #35 (MR) $3.99

JUL110463 ELEPHANTMEN TP VOL 04 QUESTIONABLE THINGS (MR) $24.99

JUL110522 EPOCH #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

JUL110526 HACK SLASH #8 CVR A LEISTER & ROSENBERG (MR) $3.50

JUL110527 HACK SLASH #8 CVR B JONES (MR) $3.50

JUL110453 LOVESTRUCK GN (MR) $16.99

JAN110658 MAGDALENA #8 CVR A CHA $3.99

JAN110659 MAGDALENA #8 CVR B BLAKE II $3.99

DEC100514 MAGDALENA BLAKE II LITHO S/N $29.99

JUL110478 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 12 $14.99

JUL110500 UNDYING LOVE TP (MR) $14.99

JUL110553 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #39 (MR) $2.99

APR110531 WITCHBLADE #148 $3.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

COMICS

JUL111208 1 800 MICE HC (MR) $22.95

JUL110839 ARCHIE #625 $2.99

JUL110840 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #9 $3.99

JUL111143 ARISA GN VOL 04 $10.99

JUL110842 BETTY #194 $2.99

JUN111238 BLOOD ALONE GN VOL 04 $10.99

JUN110857 CASPER AND THE SPECTRALS 3 PACK $4.99

JUL111325 CHARMED #14 A CVR SEIDMAN (MR) $3.50

JUL111326 CHARMED #14 B CVR PHOTO (MR) $3.50

JUL111144 CODENAME SAILOR V TP VOL 01 $10.99

AUG110850 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #2 (OF 7) CALGARY (MR) $5.99

JUL111059 DAYBREAK HC (MR) $21.95

JUN111366 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP FASTEST PET ON EARTH $4.95

JUN111367 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP HEROES O/T HIGH SEAS $4.95

JUN111368 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP MIDWAY MONKEY MADNESS $4.95

JUN111369 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP POOCHES OF POWER $4.95

JUN111370 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP ROYAL RODENT RESCUE $4.95

JUN111371 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP SUPER HERO SPLASH DOWN $4.95

JUL111145 DELTORA QUEST GN VOL 02 $10.99

APR111019 DF DANGER GIRL AOD #3 EXC BLUE CVR $14.99

JUN111082 DF KIRBY GENESIS #3 ROSS VIRGIN CVR $10.00

JUN111089 DF TERMINATOR ROBOCOP #2 SIMONSON VIRGIN CVR $14.99

JUN111086 DF WARLORD OF MARS FALL OF BARSOOM #2 JUSKO RED CVR $14.99

APR111141 DPD DOKTORMENTOR JAIL BABE SURGEON #3 (OF 3) (MR) $9.95

MAR111192 EAGLE ORIGINAL ADVENTURES TP VOL 01 $16.95

MAY111194 EPIC CHRONICLES HAGAR THE HORRIBLE HC 1976-1977 $19.95

JUL110879 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT VIOLET #3 (OF 3) CVR A MHAN $3.50

JUN110830 FEEDING GROUND HC (MR) $24.95

JUN111289 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 26 $9.99

JUL110924 FUTURAMA COMICS #57 $2.99

AUG111145 GERONIMO STILTON HC VOL 08 PLAY IT AGAIN MOZART $9.99

AUG110806 GRAVE DOUG FRESHLEY GN $19.95

JUL110771 GROWING UP ENCHANTED TP VOL 02 $9.95

JUN111212 HABIBI GN (MR) $35.00

JUL111154 HOLY TERROR HC (MR) $29.99

JUN111291 HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES TP VOL 04 $12.99

JUL110938 INCORRUPTIBLE #22 $3.99

JUL110940 IRREDEEMABLE TP VOL 07 $16.99

JUN110951 JENNY FINN DOOM MESSIAH TP $14.99

FEB110966 KATO #13 $3.99

MAR111202 KINKY AND COSY HC (MR) $15.99

MAY110810 KUNG FU PANDA DIGEST GN VOL 01 KUNG FU CREW $6.95

AUG110941 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #5 REFLECTED CVR (MR) $9.99

AUG110942 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #6 AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

FEB110956 LAST PHANTOM #9 $3.99

APR110762 LAST ZOMBIE INFERNO #3 (OF 5) $3.99

JUN111097 LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP VOL 04 $14.99

JUL111175 MIJEONG GN (O/A) $19.95

JUL111147 NEGIMA GN VOL 31 (MR) $10.99

AUG110852 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD DEATH VALLEY #1 (OF 5) PHOENIX CVR (MR $5.99

JUL118057 POKEMON ZOROARK MASTER OF ILLUSIONS GN (PP #985) $7.99

JUL111061 PURE PAJAMAS HC (MR) $22.95

MAR111075 QUEEN SONJA #20 $3.99

JUL110774 RACHEL RISING #2 $3.99

MAR111085 ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #13 $3.99

JUL111176 RUN BONG GU RUN GN (O/A) $15.95

JUL111150 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 01 $10.99

JUN111229 SHAKARA THE AVENGER TP (S&S ED) $19.99

JUL111190 SIXTH GUN #15 $3.99

JUN111201 SPELL CHECKERS GN VOL 02 SONS OF PREACHER MAN $11.99

JUN110814 STEAMPUNK FAIRY TALES ONE SHOT $3.50

JUL110968 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #70 (MR) $2.95

JUL111033 TERMINATOR ROBOCOP KILL HUMAN #3 (OF 4) $3.99

MAY111138 THAT MAN FLINT #0 $1.99

JUN110985 THREE MEN IN A BOAT CAMPFIRE GN $9.99

JUN111344 VAMPIRE ART NOW HC $29.99

AUG110943 WAR GODDESS #0 AUXILIARY CVR $3.99

MAY110995 WARLORD OF MARS #10 $3.99

JUL111192 WASTELAND #31 (MR) $3.50

MAR110884 WULF #3 $2.99

JUL110986 XXXHOLIC GN VOL 17 $10.99

MAGAZINES
MAR111433 007 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE CASINO ROYALE QUANTUM SOLACE $17.00
JUN111224 2000 AD PACK AUG 2011 $25.00
JUL111408 CINEFEX #127 OCT 2011 $12.50
JUN111358 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #8 $18.99
AUG111428 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL #51 $14.95
JUN111375 DR WHO MAGAZINE #438 $8.99
MAY111348 FANGORIA #307 OCT 2011 $9.99
JUN111225 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #314 $11.99
JUL111213 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #315 $11.99
JUL111420 LOCUS #608 $6.95
APR111337 MEGAMI #63 JULY 2011 $20.60
APR111338 NEWTYPE #50 JULY 2011 $16.00
JUL111340 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 22 #5 $5.99
MAY111352 SCREAM MAGAZINE #6 $8.99
JUN111403 SFX #213 $10.99
AUG111433 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL #53 $14.95
JUL111426 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #37 NEWSSTAND ED $6.99
JUL111427 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #37 PX ED $6.99

The New 52 Review: WONDER WOMAN #1

WONDER WOMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Cliff Chiang
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cliff Chiang
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman is perhaps the best known female superhero. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover date December 1941). Wonder Woman is a Princess of the Amazons (based upon the Amazons of Greek mythology) from Paradise Island, now known as Themyscira. Her powers include flight and super-strength, -speed, -stamina, and -agility, as well as being highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat.

With the exception of most of 1986, Wonder Woman has continuously appeared in her own comic book series for seven decades. As part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Wonder Woman returns in a new comic book series. Wonder Woman #1 (“The Visitation”) finds a young woman named Zola under assault by creatures from Greek mythology. Hermes sends her to Wonder Woman (she prefers “Diana’) for help, but Zola’s problems are bigger than anyone (on Earth) imagines.

The word here is “efficiency,” which results in one of the best of “The New 52.” As of this writing, I’d put it in the top three. Brian Azzarello’s story is smooth in its intensity with a script that moves the action through different locales as it brings together several characters and subplots into one might conspiracy.

It’s the same with the art by Cliff Chiang. The art captures the intensity of the story and its fast pace, but with solid composition and storytelling that belies the story’s anxious pace. Chiang’s Wonder Woman is a slim, athletic dynamo, and his figure drawing will make you believe that an Amazon is a real thing.

Wonder Woman is a comic book I want to read again.

A

The New 52 Review: BATMAN #1

BATMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORIST: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Greg Capullo
32pp, Color, $2.99

After Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 (cover date May 1939), he debuted in his own self-titled comic book, Batman (cover date May 1940). The series began as a quarterly and became a monthly sometime around the end of the 1950s. Batman the ongoing series ran for 713 issues.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” we get a new Batman #1 (“Knife Trick”) from prose writer turned comic book scribe, Scott Snyder, and former star-to-be artist, Greg Capullo. The issue begins with bang as Batman quells a riot at Arkham Asylum with help from a surprising partner.

Then, it’s time to play civilian as Bruce Wayne and three of the four Robins: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne attend a posh soiree. Headlined by Wayne, this gathering is about the future of Gotham City, but crime does not sleep as a mysterious and deadly figure makes his point.

Batman #1 strains to be a great first issue. Writer Scott Snyder seems to be trying too hard to convince readers that his new Batman is going to be a big deal, so his performance as a writer ends up being like an over-anxious young star athlete who won’t relax and “let the game come to him.” Even the riot at Arkham is mostly style and filler, but just misses being killer. The murder sequence at the end of this first issue is just a rehash of various scenes from the film, Se7en. Talent borrows, eh?

It’s much the same for Greg Capullo’s debut as artist. His compositions show the influences of manga, anime, Matt Wagner, Frank Miller, and while some panels and even a few pages are really nice, a lot of it seems like Capullo is trying too hard. Plus, inker Jonathan Glapion just makes it worse; maybe it will take a few issues for Capullo and Glapion to gel as a team.

This book and its primary creators show potential, but I have a feeling that “can they deliver?” is a question that will be asked for quite awhile.

B