Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 29 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV130037 CONAN PEOPLE O/T BLACK CIRCLE #4 $3.50
NOV130057 FURIOUS #1 $3.99
SEP130083 GANTZ TP VOL 30 (MR) $13.99
NOV130058 NEVER ENDING #3 (MR) $3.99
NOV130031 SERENITY LEAVES ON THE WIND #1 $3.50
NOV130016 SLEDGEHAMMER 44 LIGHTNING WAR #3 $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 29 2014

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.

IMAGE COMICS

NOV138093 BLACK SCIENCE #2 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
NOV130492 BLACK SCIENCE #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
NOV130493 BOUNCE #9 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130497 CLONE #14 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130521 CYBER FORCE #8 [DIG] $2.99
AUG130616 DARKNESS REBIRTH TP VOL 03 (MR) $17.99
OCT130599 EAST OF WEST #9 [DIG] $3.50
NOV130426 FIVE WEAPONS #6 CVR A ROBINSON [DIG] $3.50
NOV130427 FIVE WEAPONS #6 CVR B GUILLORY $3.50
SEP130624 INVINCIBLE #108 [DIG] $2.99
NOV130444 PERHAPANAUTS TP VOL 03 [DIG] $17.99
NOV130518 REVIVAL #17 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130520 SAGA #18 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130521 SAVIORS #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAR130594 SUPER DINOSAUR #21 [DIG] $2.99
AUG130719 THIEF OF THIEVES #19 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
OCT130634 WITCHBLADE #172 [DIG] $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

NOV131960 ASSASSINS CREED IV HIDDEN BLADE GAUNTLET PI
DEC130608 WWE UNDERTAKER RESIN STATUE PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 29 2014

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.

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
DEC130004 PREVIEWS #305 FEB 2014 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI
DEC130001 PREVIEWS #305 FEBRUARY 2014 $4.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
SEP131320 ACCIDENT MAN HC (MR) $29.99
NOV130900 ADVENTURE TIME 2014 SPECIAL #1 [DIG] $4.99
NOV130922 ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 PLAYING FIRE SDCC EXC $19.99
SEP130922 ALL NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #3 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
SEP130921 ALL NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
SEP130925 ALL NEW FATHOM #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR A CAFARO [DIG] $3.99
SEP130926 ALL NEW FATHOM #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR B LAISO $3.99
NOV130776 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #248 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP131105 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #5 CASELLI CVR $3.99
SEP131107 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #5 MITTEN CVR $3.99
SEP131106 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #5 SEELEY CVR $3.99
FEB120951 ART OF RAMONA FRADON HC $29.99
NOV121063 ART OF VAMPIRELLA WARREN COVERS HC $39.99
DEC131302 ASSASSINS CREED BRAHMAN GN $19.95
NOV131124 ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 11 $10.99
NOV131354 BAR MAID #2 A CVR TUCCI (MR) $3.50
NOV131355 BAR MAID #2 B CVR QUALANO (MR) $3.50
NOV131356 BAR MAID #2 C CVR FRANCHESCO (MR) $3.50
NOV131311 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 16 $13.00
DEC131341 BLEACH GN VOL 59 $9.99
DEC131284 BLUE MORNING GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99
DEC131351 BOKURANO OURS GN VOL 10 $12.99
NOV130894 BRAVEST WARRIORS 2014 ANNUAL #1 [DIG] $4.99
SEP130970 CRITTER (ONGOING) #18 $3.50
DEC130928 CROSSED BADLANDS #33 BLAZING HOT 4 CVR SET (MR) $39.99
NOV130810 CROSSED BADLANDS #46 (MR) $3.99
NOV130812 CROSSED BADLANDS #46 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV130811 CROSSED BADLANDS #46 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV131117 DAY OF THE MAGICIANS GN $29.95
DEC131338 DEADMAN WONDERLAND GN VOL 01 $9.99
NOV131037 DEFLOWER THE BOSS (MR) $12.95
OCT131100 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #10 (MR) $3.99
OCT131101 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #10 ANACLETO SUBSCR $3.99
DEC131354 DEVIL & HER LOVE SONG GN VOL 13 $9.99
MAY131091 DF WARLORD OF MARS #32 RISQUE RED EXC $19.99
DEC131340 DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR TP VOL 01 SAIYAN ARC $19.99
NOV131215 DREDD UNDERBELLY MOVIE SEQUEL ONE SHOT (MR) $3.99
NOV131312 DURARARA SAIKA TP VOL 03 $13.00
OCT130800 FINAL PLAGUE #4 $2.99
OCT130793 FRACTURE ENCORE ED ONE SHOT $3.99
DEC131339 GANGSTA GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
NOV130921 GARFIELD #17 BALTIMORE COMIC CON EXC $9.99
DEC131286 GARTH ENNIS PRESENTS BATTLE CLASSICS HC $29.95
NOV131327 GFT CODE RED #2 A CVR CAFARO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
NOV131328 GFT CODE RED #2 B CVR QUALANO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
NOV131329 GFT CODE RED #2 C CVR CALDWELL (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
NOV131330 GFT CODE RED #2 D CVR GARZA (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
NOV131334 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 A CVR REYES (AOFD) $2.99
NOV131335 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 B CVR REI (AOFD) $2.99
NOV131336 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 C CVR FRANCHESCO (AOFD) $2.99
NOV131337 GFT TALES FROM OZ #1 TIN MAN A CVR ORTIZ $2.99
NOV131338 GFT TALES FROM OZ #1 TIN MAN B CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99
NOV131339 GFT TALES FROM OZ #1 TIN MAN C CVR GARZA (MR) $2.99
NOV131313 GOONG GN VOL 14 ROYAL PALACE $25.00
NOV131121 HARTLEPOOL MONKEY HC (KNOCKABOUT) $20.99
DEC131352 HAYATE COMBAT BUTLER TP VOL 23 $9.99
DEC131343 HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT 3IN1 TP VOL 01 $14.99
NOV131314 HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 24 FESTIVAL ACCOMPANYING ARC $18.99
OCT131433 HIT LIST #4 A CVR KROME (MR) $2.99
OCT131434 HIT LIST #4 B CVR JOHNSON (MR) $2.99
OCT131435 HIT LIST #4 C CVR CUCCA (MR) $2.99
OCT131436 HIT LIST #4 D CVR SEJIC (MR) $2.99
DEC131353 INU YASHA VIZBIG ED TP VOL 18 $19.99
NOV131317 KINGDOM HEARTS 358 / 2 DAYS GN VOL 02 $12.00
NOV130967 LIL SONJA #1 $3.99
NOV130968 LIL SONJA #1 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
SEP131249 LOST AT SEA HC $24.99
DEC131342 MAGI GN VOL 04 $9.99
OCT131137 MERCY SPARX #4 (MR) $3.99
NOV131196 NINJAGO GN VOL 09 $6.99
DEC131348 NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 19 $9.99
NOV131318 OMAMORI HIMARI GN VOL 11 (MR) $13.00
DEC131349 ONE PIECE 3IN1 TP VOL 08 $14.99
DEC131244 POKEMON ADV PLATINUM GN VOL 10 $9.99
DEC131162 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 08 1951-1952 $35.00
NOV131032 RED SONJA TP VOL 13 THE LONG MARCH HOME $29.99
NOV130743 ROLL HARD GN (MR) $9.99
DEC131346 SAKURA HIME LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA GN VOL 12 $9.99
JUL131015 SHADOW YEAR ONE #7 CVR A WAGNER $3.99
JUL131016 SHADOW YEAR ONE #7 CVR B ROSS $3.99
JUL131017 SHADOW YEAR ONE #7 CVR C SAMNEE $3.99
JUL131018 SHADOW YEAR ONE #7 CVR D CHAYKIN $3.99
OCT130846 SIEGFRIED HC VOL 02 VALKYRIE $24.95
NOV130859 SIMPSONS ILLUSTRATED #9 $3.99
NOV131240 SNOWPIERCER HC VOL 01 THE ESCAPE (MR) $19.99
SEP130907 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 22 [DIG] $7.99
NOV130883 SONS OF ANARCHY #1 NYCC EXC (MR) $9.99
NOV131319 SOUL EATER TP VOL 18 (MR) $13.00
NOV130923 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #84 (MR) [DIG] $2.95
DEC132116 TEZUKA BUDDHA SC 03 DEVADATTA $14.95
SEP131229 TOKYO MEW MEW A LA MODE OMNIBUS $14.99
DEC131350 TORIKO GN VOL 20 $9.99
NOV131320 TRIAGE X GN VOL 05 (MR) $14.00
NOV130796 TRISH OUT OF WATER #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR A [DIG] $3.99
NOV130797 TRISH OUT OF WATER #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
NOV130798 TRISH OUT OF WATER #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR C $3.99
NOV130799 TRISH OUT OF WATER #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR D $3.99
NOV130836 UBER #9 (MR) $3.99
NOV130838 UBER #9 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV130837 UBER #9 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV131321 UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 05 BANQUET O/T GOLDEN WITCH PT $22.00
NOV130856 URSA MINOR ONGOING #3 (MR) $3.50
DEC131344 VOICE OVER SEIYU ACADEMY GN VOL 03 $9.99
JUL131072 WARLORD OF MARS #33 (MR) $3.99
NOV131198 WWE ONGOING #2 $3.99

MAGAZINES
NOV131458 CEREAL GEEK MAGAZINE #10 $17.00
NOV131457 CEREAL GEEK MAGAZINE #9 $17.00
NOV131446 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1389 PI
AUG131712 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #36 $13.99
DEC131452 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #30 $7.95

BOOKS
DEC131303 ASSASSINS CREED ENCYCLOPEDIA HC 3RD ED $49.95
AUG131670 BARBIE ANNUAL 2014 HC $12.99
NOV131322 BOOK GIRL & SCRIBE WHO FACED GOD NOVEL PT 2 $11.99
DEC131429 FAMOUS ROBOTS & CYBORGS ENCYCLOPEDIA TV FILM COMICS & MORE $14.95
NOV131420 I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN YR HC $12.99
NOV131419 I AM AMELIA EARHART YR HC $12.99
JUL131303 MONSTER HUNTER ILLUS SC VOL 02 $49.99
DEC131403 PEEP-MACHINE PIN-UPS 1940S-1950S MUTOSCOPE ART HC $29.95
NOV131409 STAR WARS HC LOCKDOWN MAUL $27.00
OCT132372 WARHAMMER MASTER OF DEATH SC $14.00
OCT132373 WARHAMMER NEFERATA SC $14.00

Case Closed: Fanboy and Sidekick

I read Case Closed, Vol. 49

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

I Reads You Review: THE INCREDIBLE HULK AND WOLVERINE #1

THE INCREDIBLE HULK AND WOLVERINE #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITERS: Len Wein, Mary Jo Duffy
PENCILS: Herb Trimpe, Ken Landgraf
INKS: Jack Abel, George Perez
COLORS: Christie Scheele
LETTERS: Artie Simek, Michael Higgins
EDITOR: Roy Thomas, Jim Shooter
EIC: Jim Shooter
COVER: John Byrne and Jack Abel with George Roussos
48pp, Color, $2.00 (October 1986)

In the summer of 1986, Marvel Comics published The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1.  This was a one-shot, single-issue comic book that reprinted The Incredible Hulk #180 and #181 (cover-dated November 1974).  Issue #180 (cover-dated October 1974) contained the first appearance of Wolverine, as a cameo in the final panel of the last page.  Issue #181 features the first full appearance of Wolverine.  Of course, Wolverine is a member of the X-Men and one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters.

The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 also includes the short story, “Wolverine and Hercules,” which originally appeared in Marvel Treasury Edition #26 (1980).  “Wolverine: The Evolution of a Character” is an essay at the back of this comic book.  It is written by former Marvel writer and editor, Peter Sanderson, and details the creation of Wolverine and also provides a fictional biography of the character.  This text piece includes spot illustrations and other art drawn by John Romita, Paul Smith and Joe Rubinstein; John Byrne and Terry Austin; John Romita, Jr. and Dan Green; and Frank Miller and Joe Rubinstein.

The Incredible Hulk #180 finds the Hulk returning to Canada.  There, deep in the Canadian woods, the emerald behemoth finds himself caught in a conspiracy involving Marie Cartier and Georges Baptiste.  Marie’s brother, Paul Cartier, bears the curse that transforms him into “the hideous cannibal beast,” known as the Wendigo.

Marie has devised a plan to transfer the Wendigo’s form to the Hulk.  Events don’t follow her planning once Hulk and Wendigo engage in an epic battle.  Meanwhile, at a top secret Royal Canadian Air Force Tracking Installation, military authorities are not about to allow the Hulk to rampage through Canada again.  They’re sending something called “Weapon X” to take care of the green giant.

The Incredible Hulk #181 begins with Wolverine revealing himself to the Hulk and the Wendigo and launching himself into their battle.  This three-way fight devolves into a death match between the Hulk and the Wolverine.  Meanwhile, Georges Baptiste makes a fateful decision about him and Marie Cartier’s plan to save her brother from the curse of the Wendigo.

When The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 arrived on newsstands and in comic book shops, it gave me a chance to read the story in which Wolverine made his first appearance, and I was ecstatic about that opportunity.  I would read the story again in a single-issue facsimile reprint of The Incredible Hulk #181.

I long ago lost or sold my original copy of The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1, but a recent at sale at super comics retailer Mile High Comics’ website allowed me to get another copy.  I had forgotten that even with a $2.00 cover price, The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 was just a cheapie reprint.  At a time when comic book publishers, large and small, were moving to heavier and whiter paper stocks, Marvel Comics printed The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 on newsprint.  The print quality ranges from mediocre to tolerable, and the colors don’t “pop” off the page the way they do today.  With newsprint, things like details, borders, and lettering can fade or even not fully print.

I think that at the time this was originally published Marvel Comics was printing anything that would help with their market share and that could make a lot of money with little investment.  The Hulk stories here were bought and paid for over a decade earlier, and who knows if the creators got any royalty payments from this reprinting.  Like I said, high return on low investment.

That aside, I like these old Hulk comics.  Writer Len Wein’s ability to create a compelling story out of monster comics and supernatural melodrama is a sign of the skill that made him a standout comic book creator and editor in the 1970s and 1980s.  Penciller Herb Trimpe, one of my favorites, mixes the dynamism and fury of Jack Kirby (who was obviously an influence on Trimpe) with the cartoon mysticism of Steve Ditko.  This is classic comic book art and graphical storytelling – monster comics and mystic mumbo-jumbo.

It is also fun to look at this early Wolverine-in-the-raw, which is practically nothing like what the character would become in the decades that followed his first appearance.  So I grade this comic book not on the cheap newsprint reproduction, but on the fun old comics.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

07-Ghost: Memory Quelle

I read 07-GHOST, Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #41

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Scott Gross, John Rozum, Keith Champagne
PENCILS: Scott Gross, Scott Neely
INKS: Scott Gross, Jorge Pacheco, Scott Neely
COLORS: Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Sal Cipriano, Randy Gentile,
COVER: Scott Gross
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2014)

Rated “E” for Everyone

I currently subscribe to DC Comics’ most recent Scooby-Doo comic book series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (2010).  I bought the subscription through a fundraising drive by the school my nephew attends.  I just received the third issue of my subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 opens with “Annunaki” (written and drawn by Scott Gross).  The story finds Mystery Inc. on the road and lost.  The gang ends up in the small Ohio town of Chillicothe.  There, they discover that an “ancient astronaut,” is terrorizing locals and keeping them away from the area’s pride and joy, local Indian mounds.  Faster than you can exclaim, “Jinkies!” Velma Dinkley has a plan.

In “Chupacabra-Cadabra” (written by Keith Champagne and drawn by Scott Neely), the gang takes a road trip to celebrate Shaggy Rogers’ birthday.  No-thanks to the legendary “El Chupacabra,” which has a penchant for kidnapping, Shaggy is about to have his worst birthday ever!

Once again, I experience the joy of reading a Scooby-Doo comic book.  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 offers three good stories, although some of this material is not new.  Some of the comics here were previously published in Scooby-Doo (1997) #130 and #140.

Even at eight pages, “Chupacabra-Cadabra” is a complete and fully developed story.  However, “Annunaki,” at 10-pages in length, is the victim of a rushed ending.  The story is a good idea, but it should have been a full-length, single-issue story of at least 20 pages in length.  The last two pages are crunched together, when this last act needs at least six pages.  Talk about compression.

Overall, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 is a good issue.  And I’m ready for the next issue – as usual.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.