Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 13 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT120042 ADVENTURES OF SUPERHERO GIRL HC $16.99

OCT120031 ALABASTER WOLVES HC $19.99

DEC120073 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #104 ABYSS TIME #2 $3.50

DEC120069 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #18 NOTO CVR $2.99

OCT120055 CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 04 PRINCE IS DEAD $18.99

DEC120077 CREEPY COMICS #11 $4.99

OCT120030 CURSE OF DRACULA HC $14.99

DEC120081 EX SANGUINE #5 (MR) $3.99

OCT120062 HIROAKI SAMURAS EMERALD & OTHER STORIES TP $12.99

OCT120059 HOUND O/T BASKERVILLES HC $14.99

OCT120057 MANARA LIBRARY HC VOL 04 (MR) $59.99

DEC120048 STAR WARS #2 $2.99

DEC120078 STRAIN #11 (MR) $3.50

DEC120079 TO HELL YOU RIDE #3 $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 13 2013

IMAGE COMICS

JUL120484 AMERICAS GOT POWERS #5 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120543 BEDLAM #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

DEC120550 CHANGE #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

DEC120520 CHEW POSTER #1 SECRET AGENT POYO $9.99

DEC120551 CLONE #4 [DIG] $2.99

OCT120519 CYBER FORCE #3 [DIG] PI

SEP120498 ELEPHANTMEN #46 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

DEC120560 END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

NOV120556 FATALE #12 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

DEC128031 GREAT PACIFIC #3 (MR) 2ND PTG $2.99

DEC120571 HOAX HUNTERS #7 [DIG] $2.99

SEP120510 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #9 [DIG] $3.50

AUG120522 MORNING GLORIES #24 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

OCT120538 PETER PANZERFAUST #9 [DIG] $3.50

NOV120581 STORM DOGS #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

DEC120591 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #2 [DIG] $2.99

DEC120592 WALKING DEAD #107 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

DEC128004 WALKING DEAD THE GOVERNOR SPECIAL (MR) [DIG] $2.99

JAN130482 WALKING DEAD THE GOVERNOR SPECIAL (MR) [DIG] $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

NOV121762 HALO LEGENDS THE PACKAGE 3-PK AF PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 13 2013

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV128197 ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #1 2ND PTG $3.99

NOV120971 ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE SCREAM QUEENS #1 BALTIMORE COMIC CO $9.99

DEC121270 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #7 REG LUPACCHINO CVR $3.99

NOV120861 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #24 [DIG/P+] $3.99

DEC121173 ARIOL SC VOL 01 JUST A DONKEY LIKE YOU & ME $12.99

DEC121256 ASSASSINS CREED THE CHAIN GN $19.95

OCT121187 ATOMIC ROBO TP VOL 07 $18.95

NOV121299 AWKWARD SILENCE VOL 03 (MR) $12.99

DEC121034 BIONIC MAN VS BIONIC WOMAN #2 $3.99

DEC121272 BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #8 REG LOZZI CVR $3.99

DEC120946 BRAVEST WARRIORS #5 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

OCT120801 CHARISMAGIC DEATH PRINCESS #2 CVR A RANDOLPH $3.99

OCT120802 CHARISMAGIC DEATH PRINCESS #2 CVR B LOPEZ $3.99

OCT120803 CHARISMAGIC DEATH PRINCESS #2 CVR C OUM PI

NOV121204 CHICKENHARE TP $10.99

SEP121201 CLINT 2.0 #6 (MR) $6.99

DEC120806 CRAWLING SKY #2 [DIG] $3.99

DEC120870 CROSSED BADLANDS #23 (MR) $3.99

DEC120872 CROSSED BADLANDS #23 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC120871 CROSSED BADLANDS #23 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV121298 DARWIN A GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY GN $9.95

DEC121232 DEAD SPACE COLL ED TP $17.99

DEC121231 DEAD SPACE LIBERATION GN $19.99

DEC121233 DEAD SPACE SALVAGE TITAN ED TP $14.99

NOV128196 DEATHMATCH #1 2ND PTG $1.00

NOV121234 DELTORA QUEST GN VOL 10 $10.99

OCT120790 DEVIL IS DUE IN DREARY #3 (RES) $3.99

SEP121062 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH #21 RISQUE RED EXC $19.99

DEC120926 DIE HARD YEAR ONE TP VOL 02 $12.99

NOV120817 EGG STORY (NEW PTG) $3.95

NOV121090 EVIL ERNIE #4 $3.99

DEC120850 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #8 CVR A GUNDERSON $3.99

DEC120851 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #8 CVR B QUINTERO $3.99

DEC120852 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #8 CVR C TORQUE PI

OCT120752 FAFNIR GN VOL 02 BARACK TO THE FUTURE (MR) [DIG/P+] $14.95

OCT121179 FURRLOUGH #192 $10.99

DEC120949 GARFIELD #10 [DIG] $3.99

DEC121047 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #4 FALL & RISE PT 1 (MR) $3.99

NOV121418 GENGA OTOMO KATSUHIRO ORIGINAL PICTURES HC $85.00

NOV121395 GODSTORM #4 A CVR SALGADO (MR) $2.99

NOV121396 GODSTORM #4 B CVR SIROIS (MR) $2.99

NOV121397 GRIMM UNIVERSE #3 A CVR SEJIC (MR) $3.99

NOV121398 GRIMM UNIVERSE #3 B CVR QUALANO (MR) $3.99

NOV121277 HARVEY HORRORS CHAMBER OF CHILLS SLIPCASE ED VOL 02 $119.99

NOV121278 HARVEY HORRORS TOMB OF TERROR SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $119.99

NOV121367 HAYATE COMBAT BUTLER TP VOL 21 $9.99

DEC120937 HYPERNATURALS TP VOL 01 $16.99

NOV121246 INITIATES $29.99

NOV121368 INU YASHA VIZBIG ED GN VOL 14 $17.99

DEC121039 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #2 $3.99

OCT120859 JOAN OF ARC FROM THE ASHES #3 (MR) $3.50

SEP121035 KEVIN SMITH BIONIC MAN #16 $3.99

NOV121355 KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA GN VOL 01 $12.95

OCT121153 LAST CALL GN VOL 02 $12.99

SEP120766 LAST ZOMBIE BEFORE THE AFTER #4 [DIG] $3.99

OCT121137 LOUVRE COLLECTION HC ENCHANTMENT $19.99

NOV120870 MEGA MAN #22 [DIG/P+] $2.99

JUL120748 MOUSE GUARD BLACK AXE #6 $3.50

DEC120895 MYLO XYLOTO #1 $3.99

NOV120810 ORDER OF DAGONET #3 $3.99

DEC120903 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES PRELUDE TO EVIL #3 $3.99

NOV121112 PATHFINDER #5 $3.99

DEC120909 PLANET O/T APES SPECIAL #1 [DIG] $4.99

AUG121046 RED SONJA #73 $3.99

DEC121026 RED SONJA UNCHAINED #1 $3.99

NOV120873 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 07 $11.99

DEC120900 SPONGEBOB COMICS #17 $2.99

NOV121047 STANDARD #1 $3.99

SEP120775 STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST VOL 01 BERRY FUN COLLECTION $14.99

OCT121205 STUFF OF LEGEND TOY COLLECTOR #3 $3.99

DEC120933 SUPURBIA ONGOING #4 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

OCT121057 SUSCEPTIBLE HC (MR) $19.95

DEC120813 SWERVE SC (MR) [DIG/P+] $19.95

OCT121008 VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 06 (MR) $49.99

NOV120818 VESHA VALENTINE STORY GN $12.95

OCT121036 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #22 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES
OCT121319 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #192 WOLFSBANE $14.00

NOV121426 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #193 STINGRAY $14.00

OCT121324 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #16 $17.99

DEC121351 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1339 PI

SEP121092 COMICS JOURNAL #302 (RES) $30.00

OCT121321 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #24 MAN BAT BLACK ROOK $16.00

OCT121322 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #25 BLACK MASK BLACK PAWN $16.00

NOV120739 FAIRIES MAGAZINE #12 $4.99

DEC121372 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #266 $9.99

NOV121282 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #332 $12.25

DEC121241 STAR WARS CLONE WARS MAGAZINE #16 $4.99

BOOKS
AUG121321 AMERICAN COMIC BOOK CHRONICLES HC 1960-1964 $39.95

DEC121336 ART OF DEAD SPACE HC $34.95

NOV121416 BIRD KING AN ARTISTS NOTEBOOK HC $19.99

NOV121203 BONE QUEST FOR SPARK HC NOVEL BOOK 03 $22.99

NOV121202 BONE QUEST FOR SPARK SC NOVEL BOOK 03 $10.99

NOV121493 NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS 10TH ANNIV ED SC (RES) $17.99

Mario Hernandez at Cartoon Art Museum, March 7th

The Will and Ann Eisner Foundation Presents

An Evening with Mario Hernandez

Love and Rockets: A 30th Anniversary Celebration

Cartoon Art Museum Event: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 7:00-9:00 pm

Free and open to the public; exclusive print available with $10 donation to CAM

San Francisco, CA: The Cartoon Art Museum says farewell to its 30th Anniversary Celebration of Love and Rockets with a visit from series co-creator Mario Hernandez as he discusses his contributions to the groundbreaking comic book series. Learn about the formative years of Los Bros Hernandez as Mario goes behind the scenes of Love and Rockets, one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed indie comics of all time. This event is free and open to the public. Guests who donate $10 or more to the Cartoon Art Museum will receive an exclusive Love and Rockets 30th anniversary print courtesy of Fantagraphics Books.

This special event is presented by The Will and Ann Eisner Foundation as part of Will Eisner Week, a global celebration of graphic novels and sequential art. For more information on other events celebrating the art and legacy of Will Eisner, please visit http://www.willeisnerweek.com

About Love and Rockets: Love and Rockets is a sprawling, multi-generational comic book epic written and illustrated by “Los Bros. Hernandez,” Gilbert and Jaime, with occasional contributions from their older brother, Mario. Since its first issue, published by Fantagraphics Books in 1982, the series has won over 20 major comic industry awards, including the Harvey, Kirby and Ignatz Awards. Its The series has been widely praised by Latino cultural associations, and Jaime Hernandez has been cited by GLAAD for his positive portrayal of gay and lesbian issues.

Cartoon Art Museum * 655 Mission Street - San Francisco, CA 94105 - 415-CAR-TOON - www.cartoonart.org

Hours: Tues. Sun. 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday
General Admission: $7.00 - Student/Senior:$5.00 - Children 6-12:$3.00 - Members & Children under 6: Free

The Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.

I Reads You Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #7

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Gene Ha
COLORS: Art Lyon
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams, with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated “T” for Teen

“The Villain’s Journey” Prologue

Why am I just reviewing the seventh issue Justice League now? This month will see the eleventh issue published since #7 first appeared. Well, the reason is a compilation of excuses: infrequent trips to a not-near-enough local comic book shop (LCS), finances, time, acquisition, etc. You might add that I was reluctant to read an issue of The New 52 Justice League that Jim Lee did not draw. That’s a shame because this issue’s artist, Gene Ha, delivers some nice looking pages.

Justice League #7 opens in present day Baltimore, Maryland. An army biological warfare specialist named Dr. Samuel Street was exposed to the “Spore” virus. Now, Street is a villain called “Spore,” and he creates “Seeds,” which are mindless flesh-eating creatures that he can control telepathically. Plus, Street/Spore is holding his ex-wife hostage. Enter the Justice League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Cyborg.

This story has a second focus, Colonel Steve Trevor. Wonder Woman’s would-be lover, Trevor is head of A.R.G.U.S. – Advanced Research Group Uniting Super Humans. A.R.G.U.S. is both a support group for the Justice League and an intermediary between the League and the U.S. government. Now, Trevor faces a Congressional debriefing, and these members of Congress want answers.

I think this issue stands out because of the focus on Steve Trevor. Writer Geoff Johns gives us the same action and squabbling that he has written into the Justice League since the series’ re-launched back in 2011. Johns gets personal with Trevor, showing both the man of action and the man who is a good boss and a lovesick puppy. Gene Ha is the right artist for Trevor’s story, and he certainly does some good action scenes for the League. Still, Ha’s subtle touch in drawing faces better serves this character focus on Steve Trevor.

Justice League #7 has a back-up feature. Once again, DC Comics is trying to do something with Shazam-Captain Marvel. This time with Johns and artist Gary Frank, and perhaps I can say that maybe it works a little better than the previous efforts over the last 30 years. But in the long term, dark Captain Marvel just won’t work. There is something inherent in the character that suggests light-hearted fantasy. DC and its writers just don’t seem to have the imagination, with a few exceptions, to do anything really interesting with this character.

B+

[Justice League currently includes a Shazam back-up story by Geoff Johns (writer), Gary Frank (artist), Brad Anderson (colors), and Nick J. Napolitano (letters).]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan - Conflict

I read Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 13: Conflict

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

Yaoi Review: PUNCH UP! Volume 3

PUNCH UP!, VOL. 3
SUBLIME – @SuBLimeManga

CARTOONIST: Shiuko Kano
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERING: Joanna Estep
COVER: Shiuko Kano with Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4354-3; paperback (January 2013); Rated “M” for “Mature”
202pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

A prolific, female Japanese manga creator, Shiuko Kano is known for her boys’ love and yaoi titles, such as the “Steppin’ Stone” series and Play Boy Blues. Punch Up! is a yaoi manga series from Shiuko Kano. The series focuses on Maki Motoharu, an unpredictable architect, and his boyfriend, Kouta Ohki, a 19-year-old, foul-mouthed, young ironworker who has fashion model looks. Yaoi manga is a subset of boys’ love manga (BL) and features explicit depictions of sex between male characters.

At the beginning of Punch Up! Volume 3 (Acts 7 to 9), Motoharu’s career as an architect is soaring. But he isn’t completely happy because he is jealous of Kouta. Yuya Fukazu, the man who took Kouta’s virginity, is back in the picture. Motoharu thinks that he is finding Fukazu in Kouta’s presence too often. Motoharu’s suspicions create hard feelings between him and Kouta, as well as making Kouta unsure about himself and also depressed. Kouta finds himself desperate to prove his love.

Then, a terrible accident occurs. A 15-year-old close to them returns. And Kiyoto Ohki, Kouta’s transgender brother, arrives.

The Punch Up! yaoi manga is a conflict-driven narrative. The love is real. The sex is hot. However, love and sex come with conflicts between lovers; even friends and colleagues squabble. I don’t want to give away the big turn-of-events that happens in this volume, but conflict and love become entwined more than ever. It’s good character drama, although it also seems a bit stretched too far in some places.

The best sex scenes happen in a bonus story, “Maki Motoharu’s Recreation Special.” The story starts off as a hand-made, drawn-in-a-tablet comic created by Kouta. Talk about explicit – male genitalia and orifices don’t get the shadowy-blurry art treatment. This is definitely a behind-the-counter / backroom edition. Readers looking for intense romance and explicit depictions of gay sex will want to Punch Up! Enjoy!

B+

www.SuBLimeManga.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux