I Reads You Thankful for November 2011

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).

And read a new horror graphic novel in progress here.

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I Reads You Review: KIMI NI TODOKE, VOL. 10

Creator: Karuho Shiina; Ari Yasuda, HC Language Solutions, Inc. (translation)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media, paperback, 184 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-3822-8 (ISBN-13)

Rating “T” for “Teen”

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You is a shojo manga from creator Karuho Shiina. The series is a high school romantic drama and focuses on a teen girl named Sawako Kuronuma.

Because of her jet black hair and a gloomy attitude, Sawako’s classmates call her “Sadako” after the haunting horror movie character of the same name. Sawako comes across as someone frightening to her classmates, but this high school student is really a sweet person. When Shota Kazehaya, the most popular boy in school, starts talking to Sadako… err… I mean Sawako, her life changes.

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 10 focuses on the big moment in Sawako and Kazehaya’s relationship. A misunderstanding has placed a distance between the two. Now, they are determined to admit to each other how they really feel – with the school festival raging all around them. How will their fellow students react to them taking the next step in the evolution of Sawako and Kazehaya’s relationship?

After I read it for the first time, I was sure that Kimi Ni Todoke would be a one-note shojo manga really only enjoyed by lovers of all things high school shojo romance. However, Sawako and Kazehaya are such a mismatched pair that, by itself, that creates enough dramatic tension and conflict to keep this story running for a long time. There is some big news in this volume, but the most enjoyable part of it all is watching the other students’ reactions. Plus, the ending sets up a major conflict with this series’ main mean girl. Yeah, this is a good read.

B+


Shop: Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 10

The Story of Saiunkoku: Shurei's Brothel Adventure

I read The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 5

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

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews THE VAULT #3

"Needs more than a little luck"

THE VAULT #3 (OF 3)
IMAGE COMICS

WRITER: Sam Sarkar
ARTIST: Garrie Gastonny
COLORS: Sakti Yuwono
COVER: Garrie Gastonny and Bagus Hutomo
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

The Vault is a three-issue comic book miniseries from Image Comics, which comes to a rousing conclusion. It is written by Sam Sarkar and drawn by Garrie Gastonny and focuses on a small team of treasure hunters struggling to excavate a dangerous treasure pit before a massive storm arrives. Nothing can prepare these people for what they are about to unleash.

The story focuses on archeologists and treasure hunters, Dr. Gabrielle Parker and Dr. Michael Page. Unlocking the secrets of the treasure pit at Sable Island, known as the “Graveyard of the North Atlantic,” is the culmination of a decade of their hard work. After Gabrielle discovers a hidden vault connected to the main treasure shaft, the team finds a large stone sarcophagus surrounded by a layer of corrosive liquid.

It’s The Vault # 3, and it’s alive! The survivors leave the island, but something has followed them aboard their rescue vessel. Now, Parker and Page, the protagonists, must also become the heroes.

Think of this as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Abyss meets The Mummy (1999) meets one of my favorite B-movies, Virus (which is based upon a Dark Horse Comics miniseries). Writer/creator Sam Sarkar focuses on the setup in the first issue; the characters, their motivations, and secrets in the second issue; and on the denouement (and what an exciting one it is) in this third issue. This is a study in creating the brief, efficient, and bluntly effective thriller.

Garrie Gastonny is a good artist; his compositions are strong and his storytelling is clear and engaging. However, the important thing in The Vault is atmosphere, and, with colorist Sakti Yuwono, Gastonny depicts a modern world full of science adventurers and mercenaries breaking down before the unknown of our largely dark ancient pasts. The atmosphere and mood make this a winner.

A

For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.

Manga Box Set Celebrates 25 Years of "Zelda" Manga

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE LEGEND OF ZELDA MANGA BOX SET

Just in Time to Celebrate Video Game’s 25th Anniversary, Collection Features Complete Set of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Volumes In A Keepsake Box

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will delight gamers and manga (graphic novel) fans nationwide with the release of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Box Set, just in time to celebrate the series’ 25th Anniversary. The set, available in stores now, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, includes all 10 volumes of the fantasy action adventure series as well as a full color poster, and carries an MSRP of $69.99 U.S. / $80.99 CAN.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, and is the best selling role-playing, puzzle-solving, action title for Nintendo video game platforms. More information on the history of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA and its anniversary is available at: www.zelda.com/25th.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA manga series takes place in the mystical land of Hyrule, where three spiritual stones hold the key to the Triforce. Whoever holds them will control the world. A boy named Link sets out on a quest to deliver the Emerald, the spiritual stone of the forest, to Zelda, Princess of the land of Hyrule. The journey will be long and perilous, and Link will need all his skill and courage to defeat evil. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun!

“THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Box Set bundles Link’s entire magical quest into a single collection that is a must-read for any true fan of the classic video game,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director, Children’s Publishing. “The series wonderfully transforms the game’s fast-paced action into a linear storyline, and has been a consistent bestseller since VIZ Media published the first volume in 2008. This new box set is an eye-catching way to revisit the entire series and commemorate the 25th Anniversary of this groundbreaking game title.”

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA manga series was created by Akira Himekawa, which is the pen name of two women known simply as A. Honda and S. Nagano. The pair have created nine manga adventures featuring Link and the popular video game world of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, including Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Seasons and FOUR SWORDS. Their most recent work, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, was serialized in Japan in the kid’s magazine Shogaku Rokunensei, published by Shogakukan.

For more information on the THE LEGEND OF ZELDA manga series, please visit: www.viz.com/the-legend-of-zelda.

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews The Vault #2

"Don't open that..."

THE VAULT #2 (OF 3)
IMAGE COMICS

WRITER: Sam Sarkar
ARTIST: Garrie Gastonny
COLORS: Sakti Yuwono
COVER: Garrie Gastonny and Bagus Hutomo
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

Sam Sarkar is a former actor turned television writer and is now an executive at Johnny Depp’s production company, Infinitum Nihil (which is a dumb ass name, I know, but I love me some Depp). Garrie Gastonny of Imaginary Friends Studios drew Warren Ellis’ Supergod and Radical Publishing’s Caliber: First Canon of Justice.

Sarkar is the writer of and Gastonny is the artist on The Vault, a three-issue miniseries from Image Comics. The story focuses on a small team of treasure hunters struggling to excavate a dangerous treasure pit before a massive storm arrives. Nothing can prepare these people for what they are about to unleash.

Archeologists and treasure hunters, Dr. Gabrielle Parker and Dr. Michael Page, seek to unlock the secrets of the treasure pit at Sable Island, known as the “Graveyard of the North Atlantic.” Their team has found something extraordinary.

As The Vault #2 opens, a hurricane bears down on the island. Inside the base, the team squabbles over what to do with the large stone sarcophagus they found in the treasure pit. Should they open it now or wait until they are at a facility better equipped to handle this delicate discovery, as Gabrielle wants? Inside the sarcophagus is a skeleton of something that looks human, but is clearly not.

Well, the first issue was not a fluke. The Vault is an absolutely riveting suspense thriller because this second issue does not let up on the mystery and still offers a thick atmosphere of impending doom. Think of this as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Abyss meets The Mummy (1999). I like this enough to read it again.

A-

For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.

Tegami Bachi: Blue Notes Blues

I read Tegami Bachi, Vol. 7

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.