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Friday, September 13, 2013
Arata the Legend: Ama No Iwakura
Thursday, September 12, 2013
I Reads You Review: TRILLIUM #1
DC COMICS/VERTIGO – @DCComics and @vertigo_comics
CARTOONIST: Jeff Lemire
COLORS: Jeff Lemire and Jose Villarrubia
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Jeff Lemire
32pp, Color, $2.99 (October 2013)
Trillium is a new eight-issue comic book miniseries created, written, and drawn by cartoonist and graphic novelist, Jeff Lemire. Lemire has described Trillium as “a time-spanning science fiction love story…” (Defy 2013 Preview – DC Comics)
So I’ll tread as lightly as I can, concerning spoilers: Trillium #1 is a flip book, with Chapter 1 divided into two stories. Flip Trillium #1 to the back cover, and it has another cover and opens to the second part of the story.
“Chapter 1: 3797 – The Scientist” is set in the year 3797, when a smart virus is poised to annihilate humanity. Scientist Dr. Nika Temsmith (xeniology – a kind of archeology, maybe) knows that Trillium, a miracle flower, can possibly save mankind. However, obtaining Trillium will require negotiations with restless natives. In “Chapter 1.2: 1921 – The Soldier,” British World War I vet, William Pike goes into the jungle looking for “the Forbidden Temple of the Incas.” He finds restless natives and strange doings.
Sometimes, I am reluctant to grade or pass judgment on a first issue, but I’m not afraid in the case of Trillium. I friggin’ love this comic book, so I wonder if I’m missing something. Is Trillium #1 really as good as I think, I ask myself?
I find the structure of the story, especially the use of the “flip book” format, really forces me to engage both sides of Chapter 1. “The Scientist” is riveting, with its sense of desperation and doom, but also with a sense of wonder and exploration. I don’t want to reveal anymore than I already have, but Jeff Lemire may have just presented us with the best science fiction comic book in a long time.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
#IReadsYou Review: SWEET TOOTH #1
SWEET TOOTH #1
DC COMICS/VERTIGO – @DCComics and @vertigo_comics
CARTOONIST: Jeff Lemire
COLORS: Jose Villarrubia
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
32pp, Color, $1.00 (November 2009)
Sweet Tooth was a comic book series created, written, and drawn by cartoonist and graphic novelist, Jeff Lemire. At that time of Sweet Tooth’s debut, Lemire was best known for his Essex County Trilogy: Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories, and The Country Nurse, which were all published Top Shelf Productions.
Sweet Tooth was Lemire’s first ongoing series. Published by Vertigo (the publisher of Lemire’s graphic novel, The Nobody), Sweet Tooth is a post-apocalyptic series that focuses on a human/animal hybrid child who pals around with a dangerous friend. The series concluded with the publication of issue #40.
Sweet Tooth #1 opens ten years after a still mysterious pandemic ravaged America. A boy named Gus is part of a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid that emerged from the devastation. This breed is also apparently immune to the infection that still continues to kill. Gus lives with his ailing father in a Nebraska state wilderness sanctuary. Gus’ father is determined to keep his son living in isolation. After his father dies, Gus is left to fend for himself, but not for long, as the hunters arrive.
In his “On the Ledge” essay, which appears in Sweet Tooth #1 (and all September 2009-dated Vertigo books), Jeff Lemire writes that “there are no tired, played-out stories – just tired and played-out ways of telling them.” This is a frank admission from a distinctive voice in comic books that his latest work is – plot, characters, and setting – firmly rooted in the familiar subgenre of post-apocalyptic America. Lemire, however, is correct about tired stories, and didn’t someone recently win a Pulitzer Prize for his post-Apocalyptic-set novel?
Lemire tells stories in a voice most comic book characters avoid. His stories are both disquieting and alluring in the tranquil way in which Lemire weaves tales of a rural folk, a breed of people who are not often seen in comics, compared to other types. There is beauty in the way Lemire depicts desperation; it is desperation that is as serene as the landscape of wide open farms, small towns, and woodland areas where much of the Essex County stories set. Lemire’s stories aren’t so much forlorn or even melancholy as they are calm and settled. No matter how sad the life of a particular Lemire character may be, the reader is drawn into the stillness of contemplation, introspection, and self-observation.
This is how Lemire will make Sweet Tooth such a unique take on the post-apocalyptic world. Lemire’s unobtrusive way is not Mad Max, but he offers the reader the chance to find insight in every panel. Each panel is a moment in time, not to be taken for granted. In this way, perhaps, Lemire will show us the profound even in a hopeless world, where there just might be hope.
A-
[This comic book also contained an 8-page preview of the hardcover prose novel, Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham with illustrations by Steve Leiahola.]
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
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Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Sale is On!
The 2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Sale
Welcome to the 2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Graphic Novel Sale, where you can pick up the year's greatest graphic novels at incredibly low prices by ordering direct from Top Shelf!
For the next two weeks — through Friday, September 27th — Top Shelf is having our annual $3 web sale. When you visit our site, you'll find 150+ critically acclaimed graphic novels and comics on sale — with over 100 titles marked down to just $3 & $1!
Each year Top Shelf uses this sale to help spread the word about our incredible new releases, and raise funds to “kick start” a full rollout for next year. With your help, we'll keep publishing some of the most beloved graphic novels on earth — from award-winning masters and exciting new talents (and yes, even Members of Congress!). Now's your chance to support a great independent publisher and expand your graphic novel collection at the same time.
To go directly to the list of items on sale at the Top Shelf website, just click here:
Buy here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
But here are a few examples to get you started:
Slashed prices on brand-new releases and beloved perennials!
-- Slashed Prices: March, A Matter of Life, Monster on the Hill, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Nemo: Heart of Ice, God is Disappointed in You, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Lost Girls, From Hell, League Century 1910/1969/2009, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Blankets, The Underwater Welder, Any Empire, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: We Can Fix It, Blue, August Moon, Infinite Kung Fu, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Unearthing (HC), Super Spy, Crater XV, Heck, and more!
Acclaimed graphic novels from world-class talents for $3!
-- $3 Titles: The From Hell Companion, Unearthing (SC), and more!
-- $3 Titles: The Lovely Horrible Stuff, Upside Down, The Ticking, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Ax, Voice of the Fire, The Homeland Directive, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Gingerbread Girl, Liar’s Kiss, Undeleted Scenes, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Incredible Change-Bots, Night Animals, Underwire, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Lucille, BB Wolf, Pirate Penguin, and more!
Discover a new favorite with these great $1 books!
-- $1 Titles: The Playwright,Tales of Woodsman Pete, Sulk (Vols 1/2/3), and more!
-- $1 Titles: Regards from Serbia, Lone Racer, Van Helsing's Night Off, and more!
-- $1 Titles: SuperF*ckers #1-#4, The Surrogates #1-#5, Beach Safari, and more!
-- $1 Titles: Hutch Owen, Hello Again, Okie Dokie Donuts, Yam, and more!
-- $1 Titles: The Octopi & the Ocean, Conversations #1 & #2, and more!
-- $1 Titles: Comic Diorama, The Man Who Loved Breasts, Hey Mister, and more!
Please note that Top Shelf accepts PayPal, as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover — all secure — and that this sale is good for retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices):
Buy here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
And please feel free to share & re-post this announcement, so your friends can find out about it as well!
Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 1282
Marietta GA 30061-1282
USA
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 11 2013
JUL130177 ACTION COMICS #23.2 ZOD $3.99
JUL138010 ACTION COMICS #23.2 ZOD STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130166 AQUAMAN #23.1 BLACK MANTA $3.99
JUL138011 AQUAMAN #23.1 BLACK MANTA STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130262 ASTRO CITY #4 $3.99
JUL130186 BATMAN #23.2 RIDDLER $3.99
JUL138015 BATMAN #23.2 RIDDLER STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130190 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.2 COURT OF OWLS $3.99
JUL138016 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.2 COURT OF OWLS STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130219 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #18 $3.99
JUL130253 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #6 $2.99
JUL130194 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.2 MR FREEZE $3.99
JUL138022 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.2 MR FREEZE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130198 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.2 HARLEY QUINN $3.99
JUL138023 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.2 HARLEY QUINN STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130169 EARTH 2 #15.2 SOLOMON GRUNDY $3.99
JUL138026 EARTH 2 #15.2 SOLOMON GRUNDY STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138065 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JUL130268 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #3 (MR) $2.99
JUL130171 FLASH #23.2 REVERSE FLASH $3.99
JUL138027 FLASH #23.2 REVERSE FLASH STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130266 GREEN ARROW TP VOL 03 HARROW (N52) $14.99
JUL130202 GREEN LANTERN #23.2 MONGUL $3.99
JUL138030 GREEN LANTERN #23.2 MONGUL STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130157 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.2 LOBO $3.99
JUL138033 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.2 LOBO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130161 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.2 KILLER FROST $3.99
JUL138037 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.2 KILLER FROST STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130298 NEIL YOUNGS GREENDALE TP (MR) $14.99
JUL130223 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #17 $3.99
JUL130181 SUPERMAN #23.2 BRAINIAC $3.99
JUL138039 SUPERMAN #23.2 BRAINIAC STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130206 TEEN TITANS #23.1 TRIGON $3.99
JUL138044 TEEN TITANS #23.1 TRIGON STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130226 WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 03 IRON (N52) $24.99
JUN130271 WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02 GUTS (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
MAY130277 BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS STATUE $149.95
JUN130305 INFINITE CRISIS NIGHTMARE BATMAN STATUE $124.95
APR130280 YELLOW LANTERN 1:1 POWER BATTERY PROP W RING $199.95
Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 11 2013
JUL130682 ASTONISHING X-MEN #67 $3.99
JUL130578 AVENGERS #19 INF $3.99
JUL130608 AVENGERS ARENA #15 $2.99
JUN130684 AVENGERS ARENA TP VOL 02 GAME ON NOW $15.99
JUN130696 AVENGERS IRON MAN TP FIRST SIGN $34.99
MAY138368 AVENGERS VS X-MEN BY YOUNG POSTER NEW PTG $8.99
JUL130627 CAPTAIN AMERICA #11 $3.99
JUL130726 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY PACHECO POSTER $8.99
JUL130683 DEADPOOL #16 $2.99
JUN130699 ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP VOL 09 $19.99
JUL130647 FANTASTIC FOUR #12 $2.99
JUL130643 FEARLESS DEFENDERS #9 $3.99
JUL130633 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #13 $3.99
JUN130679 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK PREM HC VOL 02 GODS AND MONSTER NOW $24.99
JUL130593 INFINITY HUNT #1 $3.99
APR130713 INHUMANS BY PAUL JENKINS AND JAE LEE HC $39.99
APR130712 IRON MAN BY KURT BUSIEK AND SEAN CHEN OMNIBUS HC $125.00
MAY130708 KICK-ASS 3 #3 (MR) $2.99
JUL130653 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #18 $2.99
JUL130582 MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 INF $3.99
JUL130728 MIGHTY AVENGERS BY LAND POSTER $8.99
JUN130691 SHIELD BY STERANKO TP COMPLETE COLLECTION $34.99
APR130716 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 01 $34.99
JUL130727 THOR BY GARNEY POSTER $8.99
JUL130615 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #30 $3.99
JUN130687 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 02 $15.99
JUL130686 UNCANNY X-FORCE #11 $3.99
APR130741 UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 NEW PTG $99.99
JUL130679 WOLVERINE #9 $3.99
JUN130686 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 06 $17.99
JUL130666 X-MEN #5 $3.99
IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for September 11 2013
IDW PUBLISHING
JUL130349 KISS GREATEST HITS TP VOL 04 $19.99
JUN130329 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #1 [DIG/P+] $7.99
JUL130319 MARS ATTACKS JUDGE DREDD #1 $3.99
JUL130301 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 02 [DIG] $17.99
JUL130305 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #8 CELESTIA [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130388 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #6 HUN $3.99
JUL130356 TRANSFORMERS MONSTROSITY #4 $3.99