Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 5 2012

IMAGE COMICS

JUN128200 BLACK KISS II #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

JUL120487 BLACK KISS II #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MAY120597 BLOODSTRIKE #30 [DIG] $3.99

JUL120490 CREATOR OWNED HEROES #4 CVR A (MR) [DIG] $3.99

JUL120491 CREATOR OWNED HEROES #4 CVR B (MR) $3.99

JUL120498 EPIC KILL #5 [DIG] $2.99

JUN120461 GLORY TP VOL 01 THE ONCE & FUTURE DESTROYER (MR) $9.99

JUL120383 GUARDING THE GLOBE #1 [DIG] $2.99

JUL120502 HARVEST #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

MAY120614 HELL YEAH #5 [DIG] $2.99

JUN120470 MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 01 SCIENCE BAD $14.99

JUN120561 MIND THE GAP #4 CVR A ESQUEJO & OBACK [DIG] $2.99

JUN120562 MIND THE GAP #4 CVR B INGRAM $2.99

JUN120564 NEAR DEATH #11 [DIG] $2.99

FEB120520 SAVAGE DRAGON #181 [DIG] $3.50

JUL120517 SPAWN #223 $2.99

JUN120485 SPAWN ORIGINS HC VOL 07 $29.99

APR120483 SUPER DINOSAUR SHIRT ADULT MED $24.99

JUN128195 THIEF OF THIEVES #7 2ND PTG $2.99

JUL120390 THIEF OF THIEVES #8 [DIG] $2.99

JUL120437 THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 01 $14.99

JUL120520 THINK TANK #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 5 2012

COMICS

JUN121240 ACG COLL WORKS ADV INTO UNKNOWN HC VOL 01 $47.99

JUN121241 ACG COLL WORKS FORBIDDEN WORLDS HC VOL 01 $47.99

JUN121275 AMELIA RULES S&S ED HC VOL 08 HER PERMANENT RECORD $19.99

JUN121274 AMELIA RULES S&S ED TP VOL 08 HER PERMANENT RECORD $10.99

JUN128173 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #1 2ND PTG $3.99

JUL121261 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #2 REG LOZZI CVR $3.99

APR121014 ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #5 $3.99

APR120817 ATLAS UNIFIED #0 $2.99

MAY121103 AYA LIFE IN YOP CITY GN (MR) $24.95

JUN121341 BAKUMAN TP VOL 14 $9.99

JUN121296 BENNY AND PENNY LIGHTS OUT HC $12.95

JUN121345 BLEACH TP VOL 46 $9.99

JUN121346 BLEACH TP VOL 47 $9.99

JUL121263 BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #3 REG RIBIC CVR $3.99

MAY121192 BLOODY MONDAY GN VOL 07 $10.99

JUL120952 BOYS #70 (MR) $3.99

APR121343 CHARMED #23 (MR) $3.50

JUN121315 CHI SWEET HOME GN VOL 09 $13.95

JUN121187 CHICAGOLAND DETECTIVE AGENCY GN VOL 04 BIG FLUSH $6.95

JUN121267 CHINESE LIFE GN $27.50

JUL120841 CRICKET AGENT OF UNICORN ONE SHOT $3.50

MAR121057 DAL TOKYO HC $35.00

JUL120936 DAMSELS #1 $3.99

JUL120817 DAN THE UNHARMABLE #5 (MR) $3.99

JUL120818 DAN THE UNHARMABLE #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JUN121336 EARL AND FAIRY GN VOL 03 $9.99

JUL120790 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #3 CVR A KONAT $3.99

JUL120791 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #3 CVR B QUALANO $3.99

JUN128139 EXTERMINATION #2 2ND PTG $3.99

JUN121247 FANGBONE 3RD GRADE BARBARIAN GN VOL 03 BIRTHDAY PARTY DREAD $5.99

JUL120796 FASHION BEAST #1 (MR) $3.99

JUL120797 FASHION BEAST #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

APR120835 FATHOM VOL 4 #7 CVR A KONAT $3.50

APR120836 FATHOM VOL 4 #7 CVR B QUALANO $3.50

FEB120944 FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #6 $3.99

JUN121355 FLUFFY FLUFFY CINNAMOROLL GN VOL 05 $7.99

JUN121089 FOSTER #2 (MR) $3.99

JUN121338 FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN TP VOL 10 $9.99

JUL120900 GARFIELD #5 [DIG] $3.99

APR121022 GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #16 (MR) $3.99

JUN121373 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #20 A CVR CAFARO (MR) $2.99

JUN121374 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #20 B CVR GOH (MR) $2.99

JUL121104 GOOSEBUMPS GRAPHIX SC VOL 01 CREEPY CREATURES NEW PTG $9.99

JUL121105 GOOSEBUMPS GRAPHIX SC VOL 02 TERROR TRIPS NEW PTG $9.99

JUL121106 GOOSEBUMPS GRAPHIX SC VOL 03 SCARY SUMMER NEW PTG $9.99

JUL121315 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #77 A CVR CHEN (MR) $2.99

JUL121316 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #77 B CVR PATTERSON (MR) $2.99

JUN121372 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 12 $15.99

JUN121316 GTO EARLY YEARS GN VOL 14 (MR) $12.95

MAY121287 HARKER HC VOL 01 BOOK OF SOLOMON $19.95

JUL120927 HEARTLESS HC (MR) $20.00

JUL120853 HOLLI HOXXX GN VOL 01 $14.99

JUN121347 HUNTER X HUNTER TP VOL 28 $9.99

JUN128146 HYPERNATURALS #2 2ND PTG $3.99

JUL120879 HYPERNATURALS #3 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

MAY121393 IRRESISTIBLE #2 A CVR GARZA (MR) $3.99

MAY121394 IRRESISTIBLE #2 B CVR CHEN (MR) $3.99

JUN121178 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #190 $5.99

MAY121186 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 37 $14.99

JUL120912 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #21 (MR) $3.99

JUL120913 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #21 SULTRY CVR (MR) $3.99

JUL120914 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #21 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JUN120775 LAST ZOMBIE BEFORE THE AFTER #1 CVR A PERRY [DIG] $3.99

JUN120776 LAST ZOMBIE BEFORE THE AFTER #1 CVR B HAWTHORNE $3.99

JUN121339 LIBRARY WARS LOVE & WAR VOL 08 $9.99

JUL121140 LITTLE PRINCE GN VOL 03 PLANET OF MUSIC $7.95

JUL121141 LITTLE PRINCE GN VOL 04 PLANET OF JADE $7.95

JUL120930 LOOKOUTS RIDDLE VOL 01 #1 $3.99

JUL121142 LOU GN VOL 04 $8.95

JUN120819 NEW CRUSADERS RISE OF THE HEROES #1 BATES REG CVR [DIG/D+] $2.99

JUN121342 ONE PIECE TP VOL 64 $9.99

JUN121337 ORESAMA TEACHER GN VOL 10 $9.99

JUN121340 OTOMEN GN VOL 13 $9.99

JUN120882 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL FALSE PROPHET #7 (MR) $3.50

JUL120928 PEOPLE AROUND HERE TP (MR) $17.00

JUL120931 PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #1 $3.99

JUL120869 PLANET O/T APES CATACLYSM #1 [DIG] $3.99

JUN121351 POKEMON ADVENTURES GN BOX SET VOL 02 $49.99

JUN121343 PSYREN GN VOL 06 $9.99

JUN121308 RIDE SOUTHERN GOTHIC #1 $5.99

JUL120998 ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #29 $3.99

MAY121012 SHAKESPEARES TEMPEST CAMPFIRE GN (RES) $12.99

MAY120787 SLEAZE CASTLE ETCETERA GN VOL 01 INCOMPLETE FINAL CUT (MR) $49.99

JUL120751 SYNDROME HC LEATHER BOUND ED (MR) $39.95

MAY120937 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #75 DLX ED (MR) $19.99

JUN121332 TEZUKA MESSAGE TO ADOLF GN VOL 01 (MR) $26.95

JUL121012 THE LONE RANGER #9 $3.99

JUN121048 VAMPIRELLA #22 $3.99

JUL121215 VENUS VERSUS VIRUS OMNIBUS ED GN VOL 02 $14.99

APR120961 WAR GODDESS SGN HC VOL 01 (MR) $32.99

APR120960 WAR GODDESS TP VOL 01 (MR) $24.99

JUN121222 WET MOON GN VOL 06 (MR) $17.99

JUN121352 WINX CLUB GN VOL 03 $6.99

JUN121367 WONDERLAND #2 A CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99

JUN121368 WONDERLAND #2 B CVR PATTERSON (MR) $2.99

JUN121369 WONDERLAND #2 C CVR REYES (MR) $2.99

JUN120817 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #21 [DIG/D+] $3.99

APR120979 ZEUS & THE RISE OF OLYMPIANS CAMPFIRE GN $11.99

MAGAZINES
JUN121405 ALTER EGO #112 $8.95
JUN121406 BACK ISSUE #59 $8.95
JUL121357 BACK ISSUE #60 $8.95
JUL121359 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1316 PI
JUL120599 DISNEY JUNIOR MAGAZINE 8 $4.99
JUL121396 HORRORHOUND #37 $6.99
MAR121384 MEGAMI JUN 2012 $16.60
FEB121288 MEGAMI MAY 2012 $16.60
JUL120601 PHINEAS AND FERB MAGAZINE 12 $4.99
MAY121468 SCI FI & FANTASY MODELLER VOL 26 $27.99
JUN121448 SCREAM MAGAZINE #12 $8.99
MAY121483 SFX SPECIAL #57 ANIME $17.99
MAY128106 STAR WARS CLONE WARS MAGAZINE #13 $4.99
JUL121437 STAR WARS FIG COLL MAG #60 SLAVE I $14.00
JUL121439 STAR WARS INSIDER #136 NEWSSTAND ED $7.99
JUL121440 STAR WARS INSIDER #136 PX ED $7.99
JUL121424 SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE #35 NEWSSTAND ED $9.99
JUL121425 SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE #35 PX ED $9.99

BOOKS
JUL121346 ART OF JACK HENSLEE SC (MR) $14.95
MAY121400 BANKSY YOU ARE AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF THREAT HC (MR) $34.95
JUN121391 BRIAN FROUDS TROLLS HC $35.00
JUL121365 CROCKETT JOHNSON AND RUTH KRAUSS HC $70.00
JUL121364 CROCKETT JOHNSON AND RUTH KRAUSS SC $40.00
JUN121082 GUTTERS ABSOLUTE COMPLETE OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $39.95
JUL121393 MONSTERS MONSTER HC $16.99
JUN121365 NORMANDY GRAPHIC ADAPTATION D DAY TP $19.99
MAR121059 SEXYTIME HC POST PORN RISE O/T PORNOISSEUR (MR) $29.99
JUN121473 TELOS MOVIE CLASSICS HULK $16.99
MAY121486 TOKYO GRINDHOUSE SC VOL 01 PINKY VIOLENCE BAD GIRL CINEMA $24.95
JUL121349 WACKY PACKAGES GALLERY SC $15.00
APR121954 WARHAMMER 40K WRATH OF IRON TP $12.99
MAY121210 WESTERN TRIPLE PLAY TP $23.95

I Reads You Review: GAMBIT #1

"The Remy LeBeau Affair"

GAMBIT #1
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: James Asmus
PENCILS: Clay Mann
INKS: Seth Mann
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Clay Mann and Seth Mann with Rachelle Rosenberg; variant cover by Chris Bachalo
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Marvel Comics superhero character, Gambit, is known as a member of the X-Men (one team or another). Before he was an X-Man, he was Remy LeBeau, a thief. He has the mutant ability to mentally create, control and manipulate pure kinetic energy. The best example of those powers-in-use is when Gambit “biokinetically” charges objects (such as playing cards) and turns them into small explosives.

Marvel has previously published two ongoing Gambit solo comic book series. The third is a new series written by James Asmus and drawn by the team of Clay Mann (pencils) and Seth Mann (inks). Asmus is an actor, playwright and sketch comic (and, yes, that’s what it has come to).

Gambit #1 (“Once a Thief…” Part One) finds our (anti) hero back to his old life on the wrong side of the law. Businessman Borya Cich is holding a fundraiser for the students of Empire State University at his palatial, private estate in Sagaponack, New York. Cich also has a reputation as a mogul who bankrolls “costumed bad-guys.”

With an invitation in hand, Gambit plans to not only attend the fundraiser as a guest, but to also crash Cich’s secret stash of super-gadgets and magical items. Security is tight, but Remy LeBeau, super-thief, can handle it. When the unexpected happens and things go wrong, LeBeau has to avoid being handled.

Having writers who come from outside of the comic book industry write comic books means having writers that inject fresh ideas into the medium. The fresh idea in Gambit #1 is having Remy LeBeau act as a kind of scruffy, superhero version of Thomas Crown (of the film, The Thomas Crown Affair) or maybe even of Danny Ocean (Ocean’s Eleven). I did write just a few paragraphs ago that it has come to that. What I mean is that this is just another comic book trying not to be a comic book, when the creators can make it act like a movie – of the kind you’ve probably already seen a hundred times.

I must also admit that while I didn’t expect much of this issue, I did find it mildly entertaining in spots. However, Asmus writes way too much interior dialogue, and the other characters are mostly empty paper.

When I first flipped through the book, I was appalled by the art. After reading it, I can say that the compositions and storytelling are good, but that murky, fake, watercolor-style color has got to go. I wouldn’t mind reading future issues of this series, but I won’t pay $2.99 again to do it.

C+

I Reads You Review: GAMBIT #1 (1999 series)

GAMBIT (1999) #1
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Fabian Nicieza
PENCILS: Steve Skroce
INKS: Rob Hunter
COLORS: Shannon Blanchard
LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Emerson Miranda
COVERS: Steve Skroce and Rob Hunter with Liquid Graphics; Carlos Pacheco and Mezino with Richard Isanove; Adam Pollina; Brandon Peterson and Tim Townsend with Liquid Graphics; Tim Bradstreet; and Steve Skroce and Rob Hunter with DV
48pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Gambit is a Marvel Comics superhero character best known for his association with the X-Men. His civilian identity is Remy LeBeau. Gambit was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee and made a brief first appearance in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (1990), before making a fuller appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266 (August 1990).

A mutant, Gambit possesses the ability to mentally create, control and manipulate pure kinetic energy; this is best exemplified when he “biokinetically” charges objects (such as cards) and turns them into small explosives. In addition to playing cards, his other signatures are his Bō staff, Louisiana heritage, and thick Cajun accent.

Gambit received his first ongoing comic book series in 1999. Gambit #1, cover dated February 1999, was written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Steve Skroce (pencils). Entitled “The Man of Steal,” this first issue finds Gambit trying to pay off some kind of debt he owes to New Son. At this point, Gambit’s payment plan to New Son pits him against Elysian Enterprises, a military research firm headed by Anwar Anubar.

Anubar is seeking the treasures of Garbha-Hsein, an ancient Chinese warlord who legends say ruled for a thousand years. The legends also say that Garbha had an extraterrestrial vessel, which he took apart and buried in his 12 tombs. After Gambit successfully obtains one of the pieces, Anubar brings in The X-Cutioner, killer of bad mutants, to deal with Gambit. Also, we see into Gambit’s past and the X-Men (including Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue) guest star.

With a cover date of February 1999, Gambit #1 probably arrived in comic book stores in December 1998 (or a little earlier). That was just about four months before the film, The Matrix, debuted in theatres. I imagine that not many people who picked up Gambit #1 when it was first released knew that series artist, Steve Skroce, had drawn the storyboards for The Matrix. Apparently, it was Skroce’s storyboards that helped executives at Warner Bros. understand the screenplay for The Matrix, written by directors Andy and Larry Wachowski and thus, approve its production.

Here, the art team of Skroce and inker Rob Hunter does not work. Skroce’s busy and crowded compositions turn into a murky mess under Hunter’s inks, and the clumsy coloring and color separations don’t help. This is not the polished post-Matrix Skroce that would emerge in a short run on Wolverine and at the Wachowski comic book company, Burlyman. As for the story, Fabian Nicieza wrote an action movie screenplay, with a wooden plot and a cast of wooden characters (plus a pointless origin sequence).

I remember reading this Gambit series for at least a year. [Gambit would get a second series in 2004 and another, which just launched as of this writing]. I was not a fan of Nicieza, at the time. Perhaps, I bought this comic book because of Skroce; for most of the 1990s, I only bought comics drawn by artists I liked. Whatever the reason, I wish I could get back the money I paid for these Gambit comic books.

C-

Toriko: Race to Recovery!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 11

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Introducing PeoplePerHour

Written by Rodrigo Martucci

PeoplePerHour, the largest online community for freelancers in Europe, has just launched a brand new product that's changing the way the freelancing industry works. I thought it would be great to share with you guys, so here it is:

Hourlies are online listings that allow anyone to easily sell their services or skills on a small project basis, starting with as little as one hour. They take just minutes to create and the idea is that people with something great to sell can connect with buyers all over the world, fast! The concept is taking freelancing mainstream and they're seeing some pretty amazing Hourlies posted like Lydia's, who can create an illustrated version of you doing anything, in 8 hours. There’s also James, who can produce an interactive 3D model of a house in 5 hours. Or there’s Siobhian’s, where she can restore old damaged photos in 2 hours. For the complete list of Hourlies, go to http://peopleperhour.com/hourlies.

It’s pretty cool stuff and it’s super easy to use. Graphic designers and illustrators in particular have already been using PeoplePerHour and achieved some great things! Marcus was able to find his true calling with PeoplePerHour’s help; Liz is able to earn while taking care of her family and Lauren is a successful full-time artist who dazzles clients from all over the world. Check out all of the success stories here: http://blog.peopleperhour.com/group/user-stories/
The next step is for you to try it out by going to http://peopleperhour.com and signing up!

I'm About to Read September 2012

Welcome to I Reads You, a blog about comic books, comics, related books, and sometimes personal stuff. Occasionally, there will be posts about other subjects such as books, politics, and entertainment.

All images and text appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.