Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 26 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT130053 ADVENTURES OF DOG MENDONCA PIZZABOY TP VOL 02 APOCALYPSE $14.99
OCT130071 ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 05 WHAT YOU WANT NOT WHAT YOU NEED $17.99
OCT130070 BREATH OF BONES A TALE O/T GOLEM HC $14.99
DEC130090 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #8 $2.99
OCT130023 CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 07 DAY OF WRATH $19.99
NOV130024 CREEPY COMICS TP VOL 03 LURKING FATE $19.99
DEC130100 FURIOUS #2 $3.99
DEC130062 HALO ESCALATION #3 $3.99
DEC130123 KING CONAN CONQUEROR #1 $3.50
DEC130061 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #8 $3.99
MAY130084 MASS EFFECT TURIAN CRUISER SHIP REPLICA $34.99
DEC130107 MASSIVE #20 $3.50
DEC130106 MIND MGMT #19 $3.99
DEC130104 PARIAH #1 $3.99
DEC130066 SERENITY LEAVES ON THE WIND #2 $3.50
DEC130076 STAR WARS LEGACY II #12 $2.99
DEC130059 TOMB RAIDER #1 $3.50
DEC130069 VANDROID #1 $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 26 2014

IMAGE COMICS

DEC130560 ARTIFACTS #35 $3.99
DEC130562 BLACK SCIENCE #4 (MR) $3.50
DEC130563 BOUNCE #10 (MR) $2.99
OCT130596 CHEW #40 (MR) $2.99
DEC130565 DEAD BODY ROAD #3 (MR) $2.99
DEC138365 DEADLY CLASS #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
DEC130566 DEADLY CLASS #2 (MR) $3.50
OCT130600 ELEPHANTMEN #54 (MR) $3.99
DEC130572 FIVE WEAPONS #7 $3.50
DEC130496 INVINCIBLE TP VOL 19 THE WAR AT HOME $16.99
SEP130625 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #18 $3.50
DEC130515 MICE TEMPLAR TP VOL 04 .1 LEGEND PT 1 $17.99
DEC130493 ONE HIT WONDER #1 (MR) $3.50
DEC130520 PETER PANZERFAUST TP VOL 03 CRY O/T WOLF $14.99
NOV130516 RAT QUEENS #5 CVR A (MR) $3.50
NOV130517 RAT QUEENS #5 CVR B (MR) $3.50
DEC130487 REVENGE #1 (MR) $2.99
DEC130591 SATELLITE SAM #6 (MR) $3.50
DEC130594 SEX #11 (MR) $2.99
DEC138414 SEX CRIMINALS #3 3RD PTG (MR) $3.50
DEC130596 SHELTERED #7 $2.99
MAY130573 SUPER DINOSAUR #22 $2.99
NOV130469 SUPER DINOSAUR ADHESIVE BANDAGE TIN $9.99
OCT130504 THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 03 (MR) $14.99
DEC130600 THREE #5 $2.99
DEC130601 UMBRAL #4 (MR) $2.99
DEC130605 WALKING DEAD #122 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

DEC131878 OQP NBA SERIES 24 PAUL PIERCE AF PI
DEC131874 TMP NBA SERIES 24 AF PI
DEC131875 TMP NBA SERIES 24 ANTHONY DAVIS AF PI
DEC131876 TMP NBA SERIES 24 DERRICK ROSE AF PI
DEC131877 TMP NBA SERIES 24 LEBRON JAMES AF PI
DEC131879 TMP NBA SERIES 24 STEPHEN CURRY AF PI
DEC131880 TMP NBA SERIES 24 TIM DUNCAN AF PI
NOV131974 TMP SPORTS NFL ELI MANNING AF PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 26 2014

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
JAN140087 PREVIEWS #306 MAR 2014 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI
JAN140084 PREVIEWS #306 MARCH 2014 $4.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
DEC131317 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG TP VOL 04 SECT CIVIL WAR $14.99
DEC131098 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #6 CASELLI CVR $3.99
DEC131099 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #6 SEELEY CVR $3.99
DEC131100 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #6 TEMPLESMITH CVR $3.99
OCT131297 ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV TP VOL 02 $13.95
JAN140969 BALLISTIC #4 (MR) $3.50
DEC131397 BAR MAID #3 A CVR TUCCI (MR) $3.50
DEC131398 BAR MAID #3 B CVR FRANCHESCO (MR) $3.50
DEC131399 BAR MAID #3 C CVR QUALANO (MR) $3.50
DEC130862 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #221 $3.99
DEC131089 BLACK BAT #9 $3.99
DEC131090 BLACK BAT #9 TAN SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
DEC131319 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #0.2014 PULLBOX SEPULVEDA $3.99
DEC131318 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #0.2014 REG LOZZI $3.99
DEC131011 BRAVEST WARRIORS #17 MAIN CVRS $3.99
DEC131199 CAPE HORN HC (MR) $39.95
DEC130821 CHARLIE BROWN & FRIENDS TP $9.99
DEC130920 CROSSED BADLANDS #48 (MR) $3.99
DEC130922 CROSSED BADLANDS #48 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
DEC130921 CROSSED BADLANDS #48 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DEC131102 CRYPTOZOIC MAN #4 $3.99
AUG131252 DAMSELS #13 $3.99
DEC131228 DANCE CLASS HC VOL 07 SCHOOL NIGHT FEVER $10.99
DEC130983 DECEIVERS #3 $3.99
NOV131018 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #11 (MR) $3.99
NOV131019 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #11 ANACLETO SUBSCR $3.99
MAY131110 DF TEN GRAND #1 LEE EXC VIRGIN CVR JMS SGN $39.99
DEC131045 DOC SAVAGE #3 $3.99
DEC131046 DOC SAVAGE #3 CASSADAY VIP CVR $3.99
DEC130831 EDGE OF EMPIRE #1 $3.99
DEC131206 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 35 $10.99
OCT131321 FIRST KINGDOM HC VOL 03 (MR) $24.99
DEC130806 FRACTURE #3 $2.99
DEC130959 FUTURAMA COMICS #70 $2.99
JAN141047 GANDHI MY LIFE IS MY MESSAGE CAMPFIRE GN $16.99
OCT130822 GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #9 $3.99
DEC131374 GFT QUEST #4 A CVR LAISO (AOFD) $3.99
DEC131375 GFT QUEST #4 B CVR NUNES (AOFD) $3.99
DEC131376 GFT QUEST #4 C CVR TYNDALL (AOFD) $3.99
NOV130757 GOLD DIGGER HOLIDAYS SPECIAL #3 $3.50
DEC131159 GRAPHIC CLASSICS GN VOL 03 HG WELLS 3RD ED $12.95
DEC130993 HACKTIVIST #2 (MR) $3.99
JAN141242 HENRY AND GLENN FOREVER AND EVER #4 (MR) $5.00
DEC131312 INSUFFICIENT DIRECTION GN $14.95
DEC130805 JACK HAMMER #2 BRETT WELDELE CVR $3.99
DEC130804 JACK HAMMER #2 MAIN COVERS $2.99
JAN141048 JELLABY CAPSTONE ED GN VOL 01 LOST MONSTER $12.95
NOV130780 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #200 $5.99
OCT130953 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #15 $3.50
NOV130852 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #16 $3.50
DEC131055 LEGENDS OF RED SONJA #4 $3.99
OCT131027 LEONARD STARRS MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 12 $24.95
NOV130781 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #34 REG CVR $3.99
DEC131198 LOVING DEAD HC (MR) $19.95
OCT131258 MEGAGOGO GN VOL 01 $19.99
DEC131224 NANCY DREW DIARIES GN VOL 01 $9.99
JAN141235 NEGIMA OMNIBUS GN VOL 09 $19.99
DEC131015 PEANUTS VOL 2 #16 $3.99
DEC130808 PIRATE EYE TP VOL 01 $11.99
DEC130807 PRINCELESS ENCORE ED #4 $2.99
NOV130906 REGULAR SHOW #10 MAIN CVRS $3.99
DEC130955 REX ZOMBIE KILLER #3 $3.50
DEC130972 ROBOCOP BETA ONE SHOT $3.99
NOV130869 ROBOCOP TP VOL 02 LAST STAND PT 1 (MR) $14.99
DEC131109 ROBOTECH VOLTRON #2 $3.99
JAN140945 ROVER RED CHARLIE #1 FETCH CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT131028 RUSTY RILEY DAILIES HC VOL 01 1948 -1949 $49.95
DEC130960 SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #12 $3.50
AUG131099 SERUSIS #5 $3.50
DEC131291 SNOWPIERCER HC VOL 02 THE EXPLORERS (MR) $24.99
NOV130787 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #10 $9.99
NOV131141 SPIDER ULTIMATE WIDESCREEN COLLECTION TP $23.95
NOV130760 STEAM WARS #4 $3.99
NOV131111 STONE COLLECTOR GN VOL 01 $14.95
DEC130965 TAROT LOVE IS MAGICK S&N DELUXE BUNDLE (MR) $24.99
NOV130925 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #84 DLX ED (MR) $19.99
OCT131132 THE LONE RANGER #22 $3.99
DEC131092 UNCANNY TP VOL 01 SEASON OF HUNGRY GHOSTS $19.99
DEC131026 VALERIAN GN VOL 06 AMBASSADOR OF THE SHADOWS $11.95
OCT130805 WHERE BOLD STARS GO TO DIE GN (MR) $7.95
JAN141414 WILL EISNER DREAMER GN $16.95
JAN141417 WILL EISNER READER GN $16.95
JAN141415 WILL EISNERS CONTRACT WITH GOD TRILOGY HC NEW PTG $35.00
DEC131327 X-O MANOWAR #22 ORDERALL CONRAD UNITY $3.99
DEC131326 X-O MANOWAR #22 REG LAROSA UNITY $3.99

MAGAZINES
OCT131521 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #22 $20.00
DEC131458 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1393 PI
JAN141548 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #264 MUNSTERS CVR $9.99

BOOKS
JAN141478 AGES OF WONDER WOMAN SC $40.00
JAN141509 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES GOLDEN YEARS SC $34.95
NOV131413 ART OF CASTLEVANIA LORDS OF SHADOW HC $34.95
JAN141377 ART OF NICK CARDY SC (MR) $19.95
NOV131414 ART OF THIEF HC $34.95
NOV131415 ART OF TITANFALL HC $34.95
SEP131460 CHILDREN OF NIGHT COMPREHENSIVE GT HORROR POSTERS HC 2ND PTG PI
DEC131414 DISNEY MUPPETS CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA HC $16.99
JAN141477 HOT & PERVY PARIS GIRLS HC (MR) $37.95
OCT131330 PHANTOM BREAKER OFF DESIGN WORKS SC $39.99
JAN141524 VORDAK THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE HT GROW UP RULE THE WORLD $13.99

I Reads You Review: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #3

AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #3
ARCHIE COMICS – @archiecomics and @AfterlifeArchie

STORY: Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa
ART: Francesco Francavilla
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
VARIANT COVER: Tim Seeley
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (February 2014)

Rated Teen+ for Violence and Mature Content

Escape from Riverdale:  Chapter Three – “Sleepover”

Writer Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa and artist Francesco Francavilla have taken Archie Comics to the dark side – the classic horror comics dark side – with Afterlife with Archie.  It’s the hot “zombie apocalypse” genre come to Archie Comics.

The end of Archie Andrews’ beloved hometown of Riverdale begins when Forsythe P. “Jughead” Jones shows up at the door of Sabrina (the Teenaged Witch).  Jughead is holding the mangled body of his beloved pooch, Hot Dog.  Sabrina helps her friend, but her use of forbidden magic has dire consequences for her, Jughead, and the rest of Riverdale.  Hot Dog returns from the dead and bites Jughead, and the flesh-eating fever spreads like wildfire.

Afterlife with Archie #3 finds Archie and friends finding refuge in Lodge Manor, the stately mansion home of Hiram Lodge, the father of Archie’s sometimes girlfriend, Veronica.  Mr. Lodge believes that the high-tech security his money bought him will protect everyone inside, but they cannot protect him from his memories… or bad dreams.

However, Archie is not content with staying within the safety of Lodge Manor.  He is determined to check on everyone’s parents.  Meanwhile, the surviving members of the Archie gang are enjoying the amenities of Hiram’s Lodge’s estate, without realizing that one among them is already infected.

After three issues, I can safely say that Afterlife with Archie is no fluke.  This is a genuinely good comic book.  It is also a sincerely terrifying horror comic book.  It’s like a classic scary movie, recalling George Romero, The Walking Dead, EC Comics, and other zombie horror fiction in general.

Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla come together to present a different take on the world of Archie Comics.  Yes, it is dark and thrilling, but besides the horror elements, Afterlife with Archie bears more than a passing resemblance to a television teen soap opera.  The typical “young love” of comic book romance is replaced by young love just a little more complicated.  There is desire, jealousy, want, and even (gasp) the threat of sex.  Take Afterlife with Archie for what it is – something different and exciting.

As an extra, Afterlife with Archie #3 reprints the comic book short story, “Horripilate Host” written and drawn by Dick Giordano, the late artist, editor, and DC Comics executive.  This story was originally published in the comic book series, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery (which was part of Archie Comics’ Red Circle Comics imprint), in the mid-1970s.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan - Ghost Story: Kudan

I read Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 19

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

I Reads You Review: SAMURAI JACK #3

SAMURAI JACK #3
IDW PUBLISHING with Cartoon Network – @IDWPublishing and @cartoonnetwork

WRITER: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ARTIST: Andy Suriano – @wolfboy74
COLORS: Josh Burcham
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER: Andy Suriano
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2013)

Samurai Jack created by Genndy Tartakovsky

“Samurai Jack and the Threads of Time” Part 3

The Emmy-winning animated television series, Samurai Jack (2001-2004), focuses on a samurai known as “Jack,” who is trapped in a dystopian, futuristic Earth.  It is ruled by an old enemy of Jack’s, a tyrannical, shape-shifting, demonic wizard named Aku.  Jack wanders this future, trying to find a method by which he can travel back in time to the era in which he belongs, Feudal Japan, and keep Aku from creating this troubled future.

Samurai Jack returns in a new five-issue comic book miniseries from IDW Publishing, written by Jim Zub and drawn by Andy Suriano.  Samurai Jack #3 opens as Jack continues to search for the Threads of Time, which he can wind into the Rope of Eons and therefore, rewind himself home.  He already has three strands.

Jack enters the village of Grantus, a place straight out of Greek antiquity.  The villagers are not very friendly, but the village’s champion, Gloer the Great, can explain why.  Gloer is friendly and welcoming, but there is more to his story than Jack realizes.

Throughout my reviews of this miniseries, I have said that this Samurai Jack comic book is not merely an adaptation of the cartoon.  It IS Samurai Jack, simply because it captures the spirit, tone, and look of the cartoon.  Writer Jim Zub tells the kind of stories that could have been episodes of the cartoon, so much so that you would think he had been a writer on the series.

Artist Andy Suriano did work on the original Samurai Jack, as a character designer.  As a comic book artist, he brings Jack back to life, with graphics that pop off the page.  He makes the reader believe that Jack is animated again, his sword slashing across the comic book page.

I must admit that I am not too crazy about the twist or “shocking reveal” of this issue’s story, but I still enjoyed reading it.  That enjoyment is the reason why I hope this miniseries turns into a regular series.

A-

www.jimzub.com
www.IDWPUBLISHING.com
youtube.com/idwpublishing
facebook.com/idwpublishing

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Yaoi Manga Review: BLUE MORNING Volume 4

BLUE MORNING, VOL. 4
SUBLIME – @SuBLimeManga

CARTOONIST: Shoko Hidaka
TRANSLATION: Jocelyne Allen
LETTERS: NRP Studios
COVER: Shoko Hidaka with Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5555-3; paperback (February 2014) Rated “M” for “Mature”
218pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

The fourth volume of Blue Morning, the yaoi manga graphic novel series from creator Shoko Hidaka, was recently released.  In yaoi manga, the love story features romantic leads that are both male.  This subset of boys’ love (BL) manga can also feature explicit depictions of sex.  Blue Morning focuses on Akihito Kuze, the heir to a viscount-ship, and Tomoyuki Katsuragi, his very capable butler, to whom Akihito is attracted.

After the death of his father, Akinao Kuze, 10-year-old Akihito moves into the Kuze mansion, as he prepares to inherit his late father’s viscount-ship.  There, he meets the Kuze family butler, Katsuragi, who is tasked with raising Akihito.  By the time he is 17-years-old, Akihito finds himself relentlessly drawn to Katsuragi, but also frustrated by the distance between them.

As Blue Morning, Vol. 4 (Chapters 16 to 20) opens, the truth of Katsuragi’s lineage has already been revealed.  With this truth revealed, Katsuragi leaves the Kuze household, and enters the employment of Soemon Ishizaki, the father of Akihito’s friend, Soichiro.

Akihito is determined, however, to have his way.  He attempts to live a life different from the one meant for him, and he breaks off his engagement.  He makes such a bold move regarding the standing of the Kuze family that Katsuragi is forced to counter them with strategy of his own.

The Blue Morning manga is a romantic period drama.  It is like a comic book version of one of those Merchant-Ivory films from 1980s and 1990s.  The series does sometime earn its “yaoi” label with a sex scene.  Blue Morning Volume 4 offers a torrid love scene that leaves the characters in need of a bath.  Everything that Akihito and Katsuragi can’t or won’t say to one another is translated into urgent lovemaking, complete with pants, moans, and groans.

Beyond the sex, there are more reveals.  Through the dialogue, Shoko Hidaka opens the characters, their lives and secrets, in ways that cement Blue Morning’s status as an exceptional character drama and period romance.


A

www.SuBLimeManga.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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