Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 24 2013

MARVEL COMICS

FEB130539 A PLUS X #7 NOW $3.99

FEB138321 ALL NEW X-MEN #8 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

FEB130501 AVENGERS #10 NOW $3.99

FEB130509 AVENGERS ARENA #8 NOW2 $2.99

FEB130646 CASTLE TP RICHARD CASTLES DEADLY STORM [DIG] $14.99

FEB130645 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER TP $19.99

FEB130555 DEADPOOL #8 NOW2 $2.99

FEB130591 DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #4 $2.99

FEB130523 FANTASTIC FOUR #7 NOW2 $2.99

FEB130524 FF #6 NOW $2.99

FEB130603 FURY MAX #11 (MR) $3.99

FEB130590 GAMBIT #11 $2.99

FEB130512 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #2 NOW $3.99

FEB130528 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #651 NOW2 $2.99

FEB130588 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #13 $2.99

NOV120760 MMW INCREDIBLE HULK HC VOL 07 $69.99

FEB130621 MMW MIGHTY THOR TP VOL 04 $24.99

FEB130538 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #4 NOW $2.99

FEB130505 NEW AVENGERS #5 NOW $3.99

FEB138322 POWERS BUREAU #1 2ND PTG OEMING VAR (MR) $3.95

FEB138323 POWERS BUREAU #2 2ND PTG OEMING VAR (MR) $3.95

FEB130560 SCARLET SPIDER #16 $2.99

FEB130644 SQUADRON SUPREME TP NEW PTG $34.99

FEB138324 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #5 2ND PTG CAMUNCOLI VAR NOW $3.99

FEB138325 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #5 2ND PTG RIBIC VAR NOW $3.99

FEB130630 TWELVE HC $39.99

FEB130576 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #22 $3.99

FEB130487 UNCANNY AVENGERS #7 NOW2 $3.99

JAN130755 UNCANNY AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 01 RED SHADOW NOW $24.99

FEB138326 UNCANNY X-MEN #3 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR NOW $3.99

FEB130547 UNCANNY X-MEN #5 NOW $3.99

FEB130593 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #28 $3.99

FEB130648 X-MEN FALL OF MUTANTS TP VOL 02 $34.99

FEB130649 X-MEN LONGSHOT TP NEW PTG $19.99

FEB130601 X-TERMINATION #2 XT $3.99

FEB130534 YOUNG AVENGERS #4 NOW $2.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for April 24 2013

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB130369 ALAN ROBERT KILLOGY #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130280 GI JOE #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130293 GI JOE / TRANSFORMERS TP VOL 03 $24.99

FEB130292 GI JOE TALES FROM THE COBRA WARS MMPB $9.99

FEB130372 HAUNTED HORROR #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130318 HIGH WAYS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130309 JINNRISE #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130317 JOE HILL TERRIFYINGLY TRAGIC TREASURY ED $9.99

JAN138353 JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE BRIAN BOLLAND RED LABEL ED HC PI

FEB130364 JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE #2 $3.99

FEB130368 KILL SHAKESPEARE TIDE OF BLOOD #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130328 KISS SOLO #2 THE STARCHILD $3.99

FEB130276 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #6 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130278 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #3 RARITY [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130342 TMNT ONGOING #21 $3.99

FEB130349 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #16 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130320 TRUE BLOOD ONGOING #12 [DIG/P+] $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 24 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB130028 AMALAS BLADE #1 $3.50

FEB130017 ANGEL & FAITH #21 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

FEB130030 ANSWER #4 $3.99

FEB130014 BPRD VAMPIRE #2 $3.50

DEC120100 BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD TP VOL 13 $9.99

DEC120084 CREEP HC $19.99

FEB130032 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #23 (MR) $7.99

FEB130048 DRAGON AGE UNTIL WE SLEEP #2 $3.99

DEC120102 GANTZ TP VOL 27 (MR) $13.99

FEB130024 MASSIVE #11 $3.50

FEB130025 MIND MGMT #10 $3.99

DEC120063 NINGENS NIGHTMARES TP (RES) $12.99

FEB130045 STAR WARS LEGACY #2 PRISONER O/T FLOATING WORLD $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 24 2013

IMAGE COMICS

FEB130400 A DISTANT SOIL #39 [DIG] $3.50

FEB130401 CLONE #6 [DIG] $2.99

DEC120558 DARKNESS #112 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

FEB138443 EAST OF WEST #1 2ND PTG $3.50

FEB130440 EAST OF WEST #2 [DIG] $3.50

FEB130441 END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #4 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

FEB130444 FIVE WEAPONS #3 [DIG] $3.50

FEB130449 INVINCIBLE #102 [DIG] $2.99

FEB130422 INVINCIBLE HC VOL 08 ULTIMATE COLLECTION [DIG] $39.99

FEB138467 JUPITERS LEGACY #1 BLANK SKETCH CVR (MR) $2.99

FEB130379 JUPITERS LEGACY #1 CVR A QUITELY (MR) [DIG] $2.99

FEB130380 JUPITERS LEGACY #1 CVR B HITCH (MR) $2.99

FEB130381 JUPITERS LEGACY #1 CVR C JOHNSON (MR) $2.99

FEB130382 JUPITERS LEGACY #1 CVR D NOTO (MR) $2.99

FEB130452 LOST VEGAS #2 CVR A LEE [DIG] $3.50

FEB130453 LOST VEGAS #2 CVR B SHALVEY $3.50

DEC120522 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #11 [DIG] $3.50

FEB130408 MIGHTY SKULLKICKERS #1 CVR A HUANG & ZUB [DIG] $3.50

FEB130409 MIGHTY SKULLKICKERS #1 CVR B STEVENS $3.50

FEB130403 MORNING GLORIES #26 (MR) [DIG] $1.00

JAN130507 MORNING GLORIES TP VOL 04 TRUANTS $14.99

FEB138440 NOWHERE MEN #1 5TH PTG $2.99

FEB130411 NYCC SEJIC SGN TRIPTYCH $30.00

NOV120588 WHISPERS #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

FEB130473 WITCH DOCTOR MALPRACTICE #6 [DIG] $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for April 24 2013

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
MAR130001 PREVIEWS #296 MAY 2013 [DIG/P+] $4.50
MAR130004 PREVIEWS #296 MAY 2013 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
JAN130068 FCBD 2013 COMM ARTIST JIM CHEUNG SILVER T/S XXL $17.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
FEB131196 ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF HEARTS MY FANATIC RABBIT GN VOL 02 $11.99

FEB131057 ANIMAL LAND GN VOL 07 $10.99

FEB131058 ARISA GN VOL 10 $10.99

FEB130820 BART SIMPSON COMICS #82 $2.99

FEB131070 BELA LUGOSI TALES FROM GRAVE #3 (RES) $3.99

FEB130727 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #212 (NOTE PRICE) [DIG/P+] $5.99

OCT121033 BIONIC WOMAN #9 $3.99

FEB131197 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 13 $11.99

FEB131198 BUNNY DROP GN VOL 08 $13.99

FEB131019 CAPTAIN PUGWASH COMIC BOOK COLL $14.99

DEC121189 COURTNEY CRUMRIN SPEC ED HC VOL 03 $24.99

JAN130818 CRAWLING SKY #3 [DIG] $3.99

JAN131264 CRIMSON EMPIRE CIRCUMSTANCES TO SERVE A NOBLE GN VOL 01 $13.99

FEB130862 DEATHMATCH #5 MAIN COVERS [DIG] $3.99

FEB130865 DEATHMATCH TP VOL 01 $9.99

NOV121156 DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 LEE SGN ED $399.99

DEC121093 DF WOM DEJAH THORIS #24 RISQUE DAVILA CVR $19.99

DEC121184 DOUBLE FINE ACTION COMICS TP VOL 01 $19.99

DEC121185 DOUBLE FINE ACTION COMICS TP VOL 02 $19.99

FEB131199 DOUBT OMNIBUS GN VOL 01 $18.99

JAN131268 DPD DOKTORMENTOR JAIL BABE SURGEON #10 (MR) $9.95

FEB131169 FLOWERS OF EVIL GN VOL 05 (MR) $10.95

DEC120920 FREELANCERS #5 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

FEB131207 GFT UNLEASHED #1 A CVR NUNES (MR) $5.99

FEB131208 GFT UNLEASHED #1 B CVR TYNDALL (MR) $5.99

FEB131209 GFT UNLEASHED #1 C CVR SEJIC (MR) $5.99

FEB131210 GFT UNLEASHED VAMPIRES ETERNAL #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $3.99

FEB131211 GFT UNLEASHED VAMPIRES ETERNAL #1 B CVR CAFARO (MR) $3.99

FEB131212 GFT UNLEASHED VAMPIRES ETERNAL #1 C CVR RUFFINO (MR) $3.99

JAN130816 GOLD DIGGER #149 [DIG] $3.99

JAN131244 HARVEY HORRORS CHAMBER OF CHILLS SLIPCASE ED VOL 04 $113.99

FEB131087 HELHEIM #2 (MR) $3.99

JAN130797 HT FAKE MOON LANDING EXPOSING MYTHS HC $16.95

FEB131116 INDIGO PRIME ANTHROPOCALYPSE GN (MR) $24.99

FEB131200 IS THIS A ZOMBIE GN VOL 04 (MR) $11.99

FEB130938 JENNIFER BLOOD #26 (MR) $3.99

FEB131018 JERUSALEM STORY OF CITY GN $24.99

NOV120944 JOAN OF ARC FROM THE ASHES #4 (MR) $3.50

JAN131251 JUDGE DREDD DIGEST TP JUDGE CHILD (MR) $11.00

FEB131171 KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA GN VOL 02 $12.95

JAN130854 KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA ARCHIVES TP VOL 04 $9.99

DEC120801 LAST ZOMBIE #1 THE END [DIG] $3.99

MAR130991 MARBLE SEASON HC $21.95

FEB130927 MASKS #6 $3.99

JAN131255 MEAN TEAM GN (MR) $22.99

FEB130674 MEATHAUS TP #8 HEADGAMES $14.95

FEB131201 MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA GN VOL 15 $11.99

JAN130805 MIRIAM #1 (MR) $4.95

FEB131120 NEOZOIC TRADERS GAMBIT #1 $3.50

FEB130781 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #7 (MR) $3.99

FEB130783 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #7 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130782 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #7 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB131202 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 15 $11.99

FEB130675 PEANUTBUTTER & JEREMY BEST BOOK EVER TP $14.95

FEB130830 PEANUTS VOL 2 #8 [DIG] $3.99

JAN130801 PRINCELESS VOL 2 #2 $3.99

NOV121122 QUEEN SONJA #35 $3.99

FEB130663 RACHEL RISING #16 [DIG/P+] $3.99

FEB130682 ROGUES #1 (MR) $3.99

JAN131039 SHADOW #12 $3.99

FEB131168 SHADOWMAN (VU) TP VOL 01 BIRTH RITES $9.99

FEB131105 SO LONG SILVER SCREEN HC $22.95

JAN130957 STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #7 [DIG] $3.99

JAN131002 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #79 13TH ANN PHOTO CVR (MR) $15.00

JAN131003 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #79 DLX ED (MR) $19.99

FEB131080 THEA STILTON HC VOL 01 SECRET WHALE ISLAND $9.99

FEB130808 WHO IS AC GN $14.99

FEB130809 WHO IS AC HC GN $21.99

DEC121296 X 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 05 $19.99

MAGAZINES
JAN131248 2000 AD PACK MAR 2013 $21.00

FEB131245 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1349 PI

DEC121346 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #4 BATMAN FOREVER MOVIE B $20.00

FEB131272 DIABOLIQUE #15 $9.98

FEB131255 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #34 $11.99

JAN131422 FANGORIA #323 $9.99

MAR131499 GIRLS AND CORPSES MAGAZINE SPRING 2013 (MR) $8.95

JAN131249 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #334 $12.25

FEB138327 OFFICIAL MOVIE MAGAZINE MARVEL IRON MAN 3 $9.99

JAN130738 PHINEAS AND FERB MAGAZINE #17 $4.99

BOOKS
OCT121383 DIAN HANSONS HISTORY OF PIN UP MAGAZINES SLIPCASED ED (MR) $39.99

JAN131380 MARK RYDEN GAY 90S HC $39.95

DEC121356 OF COMICS & MEN CULTURAL HIST AMERICAN COMIC BOOKS SC $35.00

JAN131335 PEPITA INOUE MEETS GUADI HC VOL 01 $24.99

FEB131204 SPICE AND WOLF NOVEL VOL 08 TOWN OF STRIFE I $11.99

DEC121400 STAR TREK CLASSIC QUOTES NEXT GENERATION HC (RES) $12.95

FEB131310 STAR TREK HOW TO SPEAK KLINGON HC $16.95

FEB131252 SUPERMAN COLLECTIBLE FIGURINE & PENDANT KIT $9.95

FEB131253 SUPERMAN GLOWING KRYPTONITE & BOOK KIT $9.95

FEB131315 VADERS LITTLE PRINCESS HC $14.95

JAN131988 WARHAMMER 40K BLOOD OF ASAHEIM HC $24.99

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Book Review: THE LAST DAYS OF KRYPTON

THE LAST DAYS OF KRYPTON
IT BOOKS/HarperCollins – @ItBooks

AUTHOR: Kevin J. Anderson
COVER: Don Sipley
ISBN: 978-0-06-221985-5; paperback (December 4, 2012)
430pp, B&W, $15.99 U.S.

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster

Written by author Kevin J. Anderson, The Last Days of Krypton is a 2007 prose novel that is based on DC Comics’ Superman mythology. The book, originally published in hardcover by HarperEntertainment, is the never-before told story of the last few years of Krypton, the planet upon which Superman was born as the baby named Kal-El. This past December (2012), It Books published The Last Days of Krypton in a paperback edition.

The Last Days of Krypton opens in the laboratory of Jor-El, Krypton’s most revered scientist and the man who would become Superman’s father. Jor-El’s research and inventions are groundbreaking and cutting-edge. However, Krypton has a conservative, backward-looking, ruling body known as the Kryptonian Council, located in the capitol city of Kandor. For ages, the Council believes that all the necessary inventions have already been created. New science, they believe, is dangerous.

Jor-El usually relinquishes most of his creations and inventions to the Commission for Technology Acceptance in Kandor, which is headed by the ambitious Dru-Zod. Zod is supposed to destroy dangerous inventions, but he has plans of his own. He is embittered because he has not been appointed to the Council seat that he believes is rightfully his.

Jor-El puts aside his disappointments with the Council and with Zod’s commission, as he turns his attention to a young woman he meets. She is Lara, an accomplished artist, historian, and aspiring writer, and the woman who would become Superman’s mother. Jor-El and Lara are like-minded and kindred spirits and seemed destined for marriage.

As Jor-El and Lara’s happiness grows, a horrifying incident occurs. An android called the Brain Interactive Construct (a.k.a Brainiac) attacks Kandor. The diabolical Zod (destined to be the future enemy of Superman known as General Zod) uses Brainiac’s actions to seize power. Although he is initially blind to Zod’s true ambitions, Jor-El joins his brother, Zor-El, who is the mayor of fabled Argo City, in an attempt to save Krypton, both from Zod and from impending disasters.

In The Last Days of Krypton, author Kevin J. Anderson offers appealing characters and a narrative full of compelling plotlines. Jor-El and Lara, as the parents of baby Kal-El the future Superman, are naturally attractive to the readers. Anderson does not rely on that, instead creating characters the readers will want to know. Who are they? What are their hopes, dreams, and fears? What kind of parents will they be?

Anderson also creates and constructs other characters that he brings fully to life. Dru-Zod, who becomes General Zod, is definitely part of the quartet of co-leads, which includes Jor-El, Zor-El, and Lara, that drives this novel. With his colossal ambitions, quicksilver personality, and stormy nature, Zod could be the lead in a novel of his own.

Anderson turns Krypton’s halcyon days of peace and plenty into the waning days of world of oblivious people. This world has multi-faceted political troubles, a few external threats, and an internal menace that is a ticking, time bomb. I found myself reading just to see which disaster would ultimately do-in the mythical Krypton.

In some ways, The Last Days of Krypton is an old-school science fiction novel. Its ambitions are not directly about the affect of science on a world or even speculative about a possible future. It is a quasi-planetary romance set on a faraway alien world and is also reflective of the sci-fi infused fantasy that was the nature of many of DC Comics’ publications in the 1950s and 60s. This is a novel for comic book readers and for fans of Superman, simply because Kevin J. Anderson really makes Krypton live again. That is why The Last Days of Krypton feels like a part of Superman proper.

B+

http://youritlist.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux