Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JUN130920 ADVENTURE TIME #19 MAIN CVR $3.99
MAY131078 ANNA AND FROGA I DUNNO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO HC $14.95
JUN130781 ASYLUM OF HORRORS #2 (MR) [DIG] $4.95
JUN131183 BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER OMNIBUS VOL 02 $19.99
MAY131189 BELA LUGOSI TALES FROM GRAVE #4 $3.99
JUN130763 BETTY & VERONICA #267 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
JUN131168 BIG NATE HERE GOES NOTHING TP $9.99
JUN131318 BLOODSHOT #0 PULLBOX KINDT $3.99
JUN131317 BLOODSHOT #0 REG BULLOCK $3.99
JUN131176 BLUESY LUCY EXISTENTIAL CHRONICLES HC (MR) $24.95
JUN130932 BONE TALL TALES TP NEW PTG $12.99
JUN130909 BRAVEST WARRIORS #11 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
DEC121112 CHILDREN OF PALOMAR HC $22.99
JUN131142 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 08 1965-1966 (NEW PTG) $29.99
JUN130821 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 (MR) $3.99
JUN130823 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130822 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN131023 DARK SHADOWS YEAR ONE #5 $3.99
JUN131063 DEVILS PANTIES GN VOL 01 (MR) $20.00
JUN131064 DEVILS PANTIES GN VOL 02 (MR) $20.00
MAY131142 EC AL FELDSTEIN CHILD OF TOMORROW HC $28.99
MAR131164 EC JOHNNY CRAIG FALL GUY FOR MURDER HC $28.99
MAY130911 FEARLESS DAWN IN OUTER SPACE ONE SHOT (MR) $3.99
MAY131140 GAHAN WILSON SUNDAY COMICS HC (RES) $29.99
JUN131405 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #88 A CVR CAFARO $2.99
JUN131406 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #88 B CVR NUNES $2.99
JUN131380 GFT OZ #2 A CVR LASHLEY $2.99
JUN131381 GFT OZ #2 B CVR SPAY $2.99
JUN131382 GFT OZ #2 C CVR ORTIZ $2.99
JUN131383 GFT OZ #2 D CVR GARZA $2.99
JUN131401 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 A CVR SPAY TEAM $2.99
JUN131402 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 B CVR MYCHAELS $2.99
JUN131403 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 C CVR SPAY BLACK CLOAK $2.99
JUN131404 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 D CVR REYES $2.99
JUN131007 GREEN HORNET LEGACY #40 $3.99
JUN130893 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
MAY131339 IKIGAMI ULTIMATE LIMIT GN VOL 09 (MR) $12.99
JUN131053 JENNIFER BLOOD #30 (MR) $3.99
JUN131253 JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP (S&S ED) VOL 06 $19.99
APR131166 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #200 SP ANNIVERSARY ED $8.99
JUN130979 LIVING CORPSE HAUNTED ONE SHOT $4.99
JUN131022 MISS FURY DIGITAL FIRST #1 $3.99
JUN131293 MO AND JO TP FIGHTING TOGETHER FOREVER $4.99
JUN130859 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 (MR) $3.99
JUN130861 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130860 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN131186 NO 6 GN VOL 02 $10.99
APR131248 NUMBERCRUNCHER #2 $3.99
JUN130716 OUTLIERS #1 $5.00
JUN130869 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL DEATH #1 (MR) $3.50
MAY131332 POKEMON ADV HEARTGOLD & SOULSILVER GN VOL 01 $9.99
MAY131205 POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE GN VOL 03 PANIC PARADE $7.99
MAY131206 POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE HC VOL 03 PANIC PARADE $11.99
APR131131 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 07 1949-1950 $35.00
JUN138088 QUANTUM & WOODY #1 2ND PTG $3.99
APR131062 RED SONJA #80 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
JUN130963 RED SONJA UNCHAINED #4 $3.99
JUN130880 SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #9 (RES) $3.50
JUN130877 SIMPSONS COMICS #205 $2.99
JUN131226 SIXTH GUN #33 $3.99
APR131250 SOLID STATE TANK GIRL #3 $3.99
JUN130771 SONIC SUPER DIGEST #4 [P+] $3.99
JUN130775 SONIC UNIVERSE #55 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
JAN130882 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #6 CVR A DEBALFO [DIG] $3.99
JAN130883 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #6 CVR B RUFFINO $3.99
APR130755 STRANGERS IN PARADISE OMNIBUS PX SC ED $100.00
MAR131100 THE LONE RANGER #17 $3.99
MAY131033 VAMPIRELLA #32 NEVES CVR $3.99
MAY131034 VAMPIRELLA #32 PARRILLO CVR $3.99
JUN138074 WATSON AND HOLMES #1 2ND PTG $2.99
JUN130768 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #31 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN131323 X-O MANOWAR #16 REG ZIRCHER $3.99
JUN131325 X-O MANOWAR TP VOL 03 PLANET DEATH $14.99
JUN131296 ZIG AND WIKKI TP SOMETHING ATE MY HOMEWORK $4.99
MAGAZINES
JUN131436 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1366 PI
JUN130635 DISNEY PIXAR PRESENTS #16 $4.99
APR131408 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #35 $11.99
APR131419 FANGORIA #326 $9.99
JUN131427 JUXTAPOZ #152 SEP 2013 $5.99
JUN131509 LOCUS #631 $7.50
APR131420 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #136 $9.95
JUN131512 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 75 $14.95
BOOKS
MAY131285 AMERICAN COMIC BOOK CHRONICLES HC 1950S $40.95
JUN131419 ANIME ANGELS ORIGINAL CHARACTER ARTBOOK SC $35.00
JUN131418 ART OF ZENESCOPE LTD ED SLIPCASE HC PX ED $89.99
JUN131422 CG GALAXY TOP CHINESE CG ARTISTS & THEIR WORKS SC VOL 01 $35.00
MAY131427 CURING POSTMODERN BLUES READING MORRISON & WESTON FILTH SC $12.99
JUN131455 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP CATWOMANS CLASSROOM OF CLAWS $4.95
JUN131456 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP PUPPET MASTERS REVENGE $4.95
JUN131454 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP ROBINS FIRST FLIGHT $4.95
JUN131459 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP BATMAN BLACK MASQUERADE $5.95
JUN131457 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP BATMAN DANGER ON DECK $5.95
JUN131458 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP BATMAN UNDERCOVER $5.95
JUN131460 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP BATMAN VS PENGUIN $5.95
JUN131461 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP CYBORG SUPERMAN $5.95
JUN131464 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY ARMY $5.95
JUN131462 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP SUPERMAN VS MOON BANDITS $5.95
JUN131465 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP DEADLY DOUBLE $4.95
JUN131466 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP LITTLE GREEN MEN $4.95
JUN131467 DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN YR TP SUPER VILLAIN SHOWDOWN $4.95
JUN131468 DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN YR TP CREATURE OF CHAOS $4.95
JUN131470 DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN YR TP MONSTER MAGIC $4.95
JUN131450 DC YR BOARD BOOK BATMAN & ROBIN TEAM UP $7.99
JUN131449 DC YR BOARD BOOK BATMAN IS BRAVE $7.99
MAY131438 DOCTOR WHO DARK HORIZONS SC $12.99
JUN131473 DREAM IT DO IT HALF CENTURY CREATING MAGIC KINGDOM HC $24.99
JUN131426 FANTASY TATTOO ART HC $35.00
FEB131022 HIS WIFE LEAVES HIM HC NOVEL $29.99
JUN131515 HOW TO SPEAK DROID W/ R2-D2 COMMUNICATION MANUAL HC $16.95
MAY131261 ONCE UPON A TIME SC (RES) $5.99
MAY131262 REGGIE THE VEGGIE SC $5.99
JUN131517 STAR WARS COMPLETE VEHICLES HC UPDATED ED $35.00
MAY132308 WARHAMMER 40K MARK OF CALTH TP $16.00
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Excel Saga: Where's the A/C Remote, Man?
I read Excel Saga, Vol. 26
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).
Sunday, August 18, 2013
I Reads You Review: SAVAGE WOLVERINE #7
SAVAGE WOLVERINE #7
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
WRITER: Zeb Wells
ARTIST: Joe Madureira
COLORS: Peter Steigerwald
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
28pp, Color, $3.99 (September 2013)
Parental Advisory
One of the titles to come out of Marvel Comics’ “Marvel NOW” initiative is a new Wolverine series, Savage Wolverine. The first five issues of the series were drawn by good girl artist, Frank Cho. Now, Joe Madureira (A.K.A. Joe Mad) is the series artist, and he is delivering some of his best work in well over a decade.
In the current storyline, Wolverine and Elektra find themselves helping Wilson Fisk – The Kingpin. Fisk is now the head of The Hand, the notorious ninja clan. [I didn’t know that, either.] A faction of The Hand apparently plans to resurrect the deceased lethal marksman, Bullseye, as their champion to depose Fisk. No one, least of all Elektra, wants that Bullseye brought back to life.
As Savage Wolverine #7 opens, Wolverine and Elektra launch an attack on a New York City hideout of the Hand. The two (anti) heroes end up in a pitched battle against a legion of ninja and some of the Arbiters, which are particularly grotesque members of the Hand. Nothing can prepare Wolverine and Elektra, however, for the thing known as Shikaru.
I’ll be honest and admit that I bought Savage Wolverine #7 solely because of Joe Madureira. I was a rabid fan of Joe Mad’s art after his then original art agent gave me a tip about a hot new talent. After finding a few comic books featuring his art, “Joe Mad” became something like my Justin Beiber of comic book artists. I am happy to say that his art in Savage Wolverine #7 reflects what I consider the period of Madureira’s best work. That would be the latter half of his run on the Uncanny X-Men in the mid-1990s, when Tim Townsend was his inker, into the early issues of his creator-owned series, Battle Chasers (for Cliffhanger, an imprint of Image Comics’ Wildstorm Productions).
Even without Townsend as an inker, Madureira produces art for Savage Wolverine that also recalls the influences that shaped his style: anime, manga, and Art Adams. Peter Steigerwald’s colors give Mad’s Savage Wolverine art a kind of futuristic and apocalyptic mood. That is a good thing, because the art’s sinister atmosphere saves the story.
All that writer Zeb Wells is offering in Savage Wolverine is an unimaginative, barely inspired rehash of everything that Frank Miller has done ten times better with Elektra, the Hand, the Kingpin, and Wolverine. Yes, Virginia, Savage Wolverine #7 is a catalogue of Frank Miller clichés. There is a saying that those who can’t do, teach. In comics, those who can’t do original, do Frank Miller.
B-
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
I Reads You Review: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC Book 1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Neil Gaiman
ARTIST: John Bolton
LETTERS: Todd Klein
EDITOR: Karen Berger
48pp, Color, $3.95 U.S., $4.75 CAN (1990)
The Books of Magic was a four-issue comic book miniseries written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. The series focuses on a boy named Timothy “Tim” Hunter, who has the potential to become the world’s greatest magician.
Each issue (or “book”) was drawn by a different artist: Book I by John Bolton; Book II by Scott Hampton; Book III by Charles Vess; and Book IV by Paul Johnson. In addition to Hunter, the book also features four characters who take it upon themselves to introduce Hunter to the world of magic (as it exists in the DC Comics Universe): The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mr. E. Constantine mockingly refers to himself and the others as “the Trenchcoat Brigade.”
The Books of Magic, Book I is entitled “The Invisible Labyrinth.” The Phantom Stranger takes Tim on a journey through the history of the DC Universe. The story begins with the Trenchcoat Brigade debating if and how they should help Hunter. Eventually, the story moves the Phantom Stranger and Hunter back through time so that the boy can experience ancient figures speaking of the high cost of magic. DC Comics magical characters that appear in Book I include, Merlin, Jason Blood, Dr. Fate/Kent Nelson, Zatara, and Sargon the Sorcerer/John Sargent.
If I remember correctly, I read one or two issues of The Books of Magic, but I did not read the story in its entirety until the first trade paperback collection, which had an introduction by author Roger Zelazny, was published in 1991 (I think). However, I have not read the story since then (which is something like over twenty years), nor have I ever read the ongoing series that spun off from the original miniseries.
Reading The Books of Magic again, I am not only surprised by how humorous it is, but also how often the story shifts in terms of tone and mood. Gaiman presents the gathering of The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mr. E, as if it were a regular meeting between bickering old pals, which I thinks encourages the readers to want to get to know all four characters better or, in some cases, for the first time. That humor is mostly conveyed in the dialogue, because John Bolton’s art, as effective as it is for most of the first book, does not capture the nuances and little bits of humor that Gaiman is giving to the characters in the first ten or so pages.
Bolton’s strength comes through once the Phantom Stranger and Tim Hunter begin their journey. Gaiman portrays magic, not as a happy thing ready to pull anything out of thin air. He is philosophical about it, imparting to his readers that it comes with a cost, in that magic may take much more than it ever gives. Bolton depicts magic in all the diversity of its earthly incarnations, while encapsulating the interplay between the dark and the light, the beautiful and the unsightly, and the alien and the familiar. Bolton makes DC Comics’ nonsensical ‘bible” of magic visually and graphically dark, ambiguous, intriguing, and even alluring.
The Books of Magic, Book I: The Invisible Labyrinth will make you want to read the rest of the series. I had forgotten how special this series was and is. I doubt DC Comics could do something like this again, even they tried.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Review: STAR WARS: LEGACY Volume 2 #5
STAR WARS: LEGACY VOLUME 2 #5
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics
["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]
SCRIPT: Corrina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
ART: Gabriel Hardman
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Dave Wilkins
EDITOR: Randy Stradley
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2013)
Prisoner of the Floating World: Part Five
“Prisoner of the Floating World,” the first story arc of the recently launched Star Wars comic book series, Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2, comes to an end. According to publisher, Dark Horse Comics, Legacy Volume 2 takes place “approximately 138 years after the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” Legacy Volume 2 focuses on junk dealer Ania Solo, the great-great granddaughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo.
The storyline began when Miss Solo finds a battered Imperial communications droid and a lost lightsaber. Because of these finds, Ania ends up on the run with her friend Sauk, an ice harvester and refugee from Mon Calamari. Later, AG-37, an ancient assassin droid, joins them. Meanwhile, young Imperial Knight, Jao Assam, searches for the master to whom he is apprenticed, Imperial Knight Yalta Val. The quartet becomes involved in a Sith conspiracy centered on the building of a communications array in the Carreras System.
Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 #5 opens with Ania blaming herself for everything bad that has happened and rejecting any connections that she has to a family legacy. Now, Ania finds herself racing between a planetoid and the space station that holds the Carreras System’s communications array, which are on a collision course. The Sith behind this new conspiracy reveals himself as Darth Wredd, and he stands between Ania and her comrades and escape.
This final issue of Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2’s first story arc has forced me to make this clear. Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is the best new Star Wars comic book series of 2013 – better even than Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda’s new eponymous Star Wars comic book series that has been getting a lot of attention. Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is the best Star Wars comic book since Marvel Comics’ Star Wars (1977 to 1986).
Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2’s creative team of Corrina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman are creating Star Wars Expanded Universe fiction that recalls George Lucas’ original Star Wars films. I don’t know how long Bechko and Hardman will work on Legacy Volume 2, as I’m certain Marvel or DC Comics will hire them away from Dark Horse, if they have not already done so. In the meantime, we have this great comic book series.
A+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
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