Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 11 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR141351 A CENTAURS LIFE GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.99
MAR141350 ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF JOKER CIRCUS & LIARS GAME VOL 05 (MR) $12.99
APR141479 ARATA THE LEGEND GN VOL 18 $9.99
APR141436 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #21 CVR A CRYSTAL $3.99
APR141437 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #21 CVR B WALSH $3.99
APR141438 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG TP VOL 05 MISSION IMPROBABLE $14.99
MAR140837 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #251 $3.99
APR141414 ARMOR HUNTERS #1 BLANK CVR $3.99
APR141409 ARMOR HUNTERS #1 CVR A REG (AH) $3.99
APR141410 ARMOR HUNTERS #1 CVR B CHROM (AH) $5.99
APR141165 ASH & THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #8 $3.99
APR141166 ASH & THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #8 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
MAR140803 BAD VENTURES BOBO BACKSLACK GN (MR) $14.95
MAR141539 BAR MAID TP VOL 01 $15.99
APR141024 BEE AND PUPPYCAT #2 MAIN CVRS $3.99
APR141087 BLOOD QUEEN #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR (MR) $3.99
APR141085 BLOOD QUEEN #1 CVR A ANACLETO (MR) $3.99
APR141086 BLOOD QUEEN #1 CVR B GARZA (MR) $3.99
APR141434 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #23 CVR A BARRIONUEVO $3.99
APR141435 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #23 CVR B PEREZ $3.99
MAR140799 BO PLUSHY GANGSTA #3 (MR) $3.99
APR141053 BONE COLOR ED HC VOL 07 GHOST CIRCLES NEW PTG $26.99
APR141022 BRAVEST WARRIORS 2014 IMPOSSIBEAR SPECIAL #1 $4.99
APR140931 CALIBAN #3 DARK MATTER CVR (MR) $9.99
APR148012 CHAOS #1 CAMPBELL B&W 2ND PTG $3.99
APR141271 CHOSIN HOLD THE LINE GN $24.99
APR140899 CROSSED BADLANDS #55 (MR) $3.99
APR140902 CROSSED BADLANDS #55 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140901 CROSSED BADLANDS #55 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140900 CROSSED BADLANDS #55 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140893 CROSSED HC VOL 09 (MR) $27.99
APR140892 CROSSED TP VOL 09 (MR) $19.99
APR140968 DEAD LETTERS #3 $3.99
APR141480 DEADMAN WONDERLAND GN VOL 03 $9.99
JAN141174 DF SATELLITE SAM #1 MIDTOWN B&W CVR $15.99
FEB141254 DF TUROK #1 DYNAMIC MIDTOWN LTD CVR $10.00
APR140895 DICKS END OF TIME #1 (MR) $3.99
APR140896 DICKS END OF TIME #1 OFFENSIVE CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140958 EMPTY MAN #1 $3.99
APR141514 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #4 A CVR LAISO $2.99
APR141515 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #4 B CVR TRIANO $2.99
APR141516 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #4 C CVR EHNOT $2.99
APR141494 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #2 A CVR CHEN $2.99
APR141495 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #2 B CVR ORTIZ $2.99
APR141496 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #2 C CVR ANDOLFO $2.99
APR141497 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #2 D CVR CAFARO $2.99
MAR141353 GIRLS UND PANZER GN VOL 01 $12.99
APR140918 GOD IS DEAD #14 (MR) $3.99
APR140919 GOD IS DEAD #14 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140920 GOD IS DEAD #14 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140921 GOD IS DEAD #14 ICONIC CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140899 GOLD DIGGER #211 $3.99
FEB141175 LEGENDERRY A STEAMPUNK ADV #4 $3.99
APR141231 LEWIS & CLARK GN $17.99
APR148175 LUMBERJANES #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99
APR140998 LUMBERJANES #3 $3.99
APR141481 MAGI GN VOL 06 $9.99
APR148157 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #1 MALAGA 2ND PTG $3.99
APR148158 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #2 HARDMAN 2ND PTG $3.99
APR148159 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #3 HARDMAN 2ND PTG $3.99
MAR141286 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS HC VOL 01 RITA REPULSA $12.99
APR141154 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #2 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $4.99
APR141152 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #2 GENZOMAN CVR $4.99
APR141155 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #2 ULTRA LTD CUMMINGS CVR $19.99
APR141016 PEANUTS BEAGLE LANDED CHARLIE BROWN ORIGINAL GN $9.99
APR140974 RETURNING #4 $3.99
APR141326 SAN HANNIBAL #2 $2.99
MAR140961 SAVAGE BROTHERS DELUXE ED TP $9.99
APR141046 SCHOOL BITES NIGHT CLASSES PT 1 JUST DESSERTS $4.99
FEB141344 SHEENA #2 $3.99
APR141169 SHERLOCK HOLMES MORIARTY LIVES #4 $3.99
MAR141133 SHOWA HISTORY OF JAPAN TP VOL 02 1939-1944 (MR) $24.95
APR141292 SIXTH GUN #41 $3.99
MAR140853 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #261 REG CVR $2.99
APR140973 SONS OF ANARCHY #10 (MR) $3.99
APR141044 SPONGEBOB COMICS #33 $2.99
APR140935 STITCHED TP VOL 03 (MR) $19.99
APR141482 TIGER & BUNNY GN VOL 05 $9.99
APR140946 UBER #10 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR) $5.99
APR140940 UBER #14 (MR) $3.99
APR140943 UBER #14 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140942 UBER #14 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140941 UBER #14 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
APR140945 UBER #5 DOMINATE CVR (MR) $9.99
APR141341 US JUDGE DREDD XXX FILES TP (MR) $24.99
DEC131123 WALT BEFORE SKEEZIX HC 1919-1920 $44.95
APR141290 WASTELAND #55 (MR) $3.99
DEC131307 WONDER MOMO BATTLE IDOL HC VOL 01 $19.99
FEB141388 WWE SUPERSTARS ONGOING #5 $3.99

MAGAZINES
APR141657 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1408 PI
APR141653 JUXTAPOZ #162 JUL 2014 $5.99
JAN141552 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #145 $9.95
APR141677 STAR WARS INSIDER #150 NEWSSTAND ED $7.99
APR141678 STAR WARS INSIDER #150 PX ED $7.99

BOOKS
APR141539 ART OF ADRIAN VELEZ AGE OF DELIGHTS (MR) $14.95
APR141543 DIRTY RENDEZOUS HC (MR) $49.95
MAR141168 JACK DAVIS DRAWING AMERICAN POP CULTURE HC (NEW PTG) $29.99
APR140989 JIM HENSONS DARK CRYSTAL HC NOVEL $19.99
APR141570 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC COLL POSTER BOOK $20.00
APR141544 NATURALLY SEXY HC (MR) $37.95
APR141579 NEIL GAIMAN OCEAN AT END OF LANE NOVEL SC $14.99
MAR141566 POTA POSTER COLLECTION $24.99
MAR141554 QUOTABLE DOCTOR WHO WISE WORDS ACROSS TIME & SPACE HC $19.99
APR141581 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 85 MASTERS OF DEATH $14.95
FEB141626 SHADOW FORESHADOWING BATMAN W SHADOW ANNUAL #1 SUPER PACK $39.95
FEB141345 SHERLOCK HOLMES & KOLCHAK CRY FOR THUNDER NOVEL HC $19.99
APR141555 SUPER BOYS AMAZING ADV OF JERRY SIEGEL & JOE SHUSTER SC $17.99
APR141556 WALKING DEAD NOVEL SC VOL 03 FALL OF GOVERNOR PT 1 $14.99

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan - Ghost Story: Aoandon

I read Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 21

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which has free smart phone apps and comics, and is now seeking donations. Follow me on Twitter.

Book Review: THE THREE EMPERORS

THE THREE EMPERORS
HARPERCOLLINS – @HarperCollins

AUTHOR: William Dietrich
ISBN: 978-0-06-219410-7; hardcover (May 6, 2014)
384pp, B&W, $25.99 U.S.

The Three Emperors is a 2014 adventure novel from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist turned novelist William Dietrich.  [1990: Ross Anderson, Bill Dietrich, Mary Ann Gwinn and Eric Nalder, The Seattle Times, “for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and its aftermath.”]  The Three Emperors is “An Ethan Gage Adventure” and is the seventh book in a series that stars spy, adventurer, and treasure hunter, Ethan Gage.  Like 2013’s The Barbed Crown, The Three Emperors is set during the Napoleonic wars.

The Three Emperors opens in early November of 1805 just a few weeks after the Battle of Trafalgar, the October 1805 battle in which the British Royal Navy fought the combined fleet of the navies of France and Spain.  Adventurer Ethan Gage was an unwilling participant in the battle, but his quick wits helped him survive and escape.  Now, Gage has made his way to Venice, Italy where he hopes to use his gambling skills to earn the money he needs for the journey to find his family.

Before Trafalgar, Gage was separated from his wife, the “Egyptian priestess” Astiza, and his son, Horus (Harry, who is not quite five-years-old).  They are currently imprisoned by a ruthless mystic and an evil dwarf alchemist, who are forcing Astiza to try to change base metal into gold.  However, their ultimate prize is the automaton known as the Brazen Head.  Created by Albertus Magnus, spirited away by Christian Rosenkreutz, and reportedly destroyed by Thomas Aquinas, the Brazen Head is the mysterious medieval device rumored to foretell the future.

On his way to find his family and unaware of the depth of their plight, Gage finds himself once again accosted by Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor Napoleon 1).  Before he knows it, Gage is a soldier in the Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors.  [The three emperors were Bonaparte, commander of the French army; Tsar Alexander 1, commander of the Russo-Austrian army; and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II].  There, Gage meets new and unlikely allies, Gideon Dray, a Jewish Napoleonic soldier, and his sutler father, Aaron Dray.

Possessing what is reputed to be a fragment of Durendal, the legendary sword of Roland, Gage stays just a little of ahead of his pursuers and plots to survive war.  Gage’s biggest test comes when he travels through the darkest and most superstitious realms of 18th century Eastern Europe, to rescue his family and to locate the Brazen Head.

In The Barbed Crown, author William Dietrich depicted Ethan Gage using both his skill sets as a spy and a treasure hunter to augment his skills as a diplomat.  At The Barbed Crown’s center was the story of the heist meant to upset Napoleon’s coronation; Dietrich placed this story in the context of the hunt for mystical objects, diplomacy, and war.

The Three Emperors is darker, mainly because Gage’s life seems in real peril.  Astiza and Harry also seem to be dangling over a precipice that leads to awful deaths.  At the same time, The Three Emperors has a quality that recalls the Indiana Jones movies, as Gage and Astiza and Harry – separately and together – race from one dangerous, exotic, and mysterious locale to another in search of the Brazen Head.

The chase and locales are what make The Three Emperors such an engaging read.  Dietrich colorful and vivid prose transports the readers, placing them side-by-side with Gage or Astiza and Harry.  Sometimes, I felt as if my neck were also on the line, as if I were in danger of becoming the main course for a hungry dwarf.  I probably prefer The Barbed Crown’s lighter moments, but I thoroughly enjoyed the perilous journey William Dietrich offers in The Three Emperors.

B+

www.williamdietrich.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Kamisama Kiss: Where is Kuromaro?

I read Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 15

I posted a review at ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: NIGHTCRAWLER #1

NIGHTCRAWLER (2014) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Chris Claremont
ARTIST: Todd Nauck
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson; Humberto Ramos with Edgar Delgado
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated T+

Nightcrawler (also known as Kurt Wagner) is a Marvel Comics superhero character and is best known as a member of the X-Men.  Nightcrawler was created by writer Len Wein and the late artist Dave Cockrum, and the character debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (cover dated: May 1975).

Nightcrawler is a mutant and his most obvious power is the ability to teleport across short or long distances.  He also possesses superhuman agility and adhesive three-fingered hands and two-toed feet.  He has indigo or blue-colored fur (which allows him to blend into shadows), yellow eyes, pointed ears, and a prehensile tail.

Nightcrawler has appeared in numerous X-Men and related publications, including the 1980s and 90’s series, Excalibur.  He has been the star of two miniseries and a short-lived ongoing series.  Nightcrawler was killed off in X-Force (Vol. 3) #26 (cover dated:  April 2010), which was part of the X-Men: Second Coming crossover publishing event.

Nightcrawler recently returned to the Marvel Comics land of the living.  Now, there is a new Nightcrawler ongoing comic book series from the creative team of writer Chris Claremont, artist Todd Nauck, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg and letterer Cory Petit.

Nightcrawler #1 opens at the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning.  In the Danger Room, where the X-Men hone their skills, Nightcrawler engages Wolverine in a fierce one-on-one battle session.  Storm, Beast, and Dr. Cecelia Reyes watch.  Nightcrawler is also having a difficult time with his new surroundings, especially a school full of strange, new mutant students.  Nightcrawler travels to Manhattan to visit his longtime girlfriend, the witch Amanda Sefton.  But a normal romantic evening is not to be – not for an X-Man.

Chris Claremont is not credited as a creator of Nightcrawler.  He has written the character longer than anyone else, and he was the first to write the character extensively.  So Claremont is practically Nightcrawler’s father and co-creator, but you could not tell that judging by Nightcrawler #1 alone.

It is not a bad read.  This is just mostly nothing.  It is as if Claremont’s creative engine has not only run out of fuel, but has also simply worn down from overuse.  Even if it could be re-energized, I wonder if Claremont’s imagination could ever deliver the X-Men stories he once did.  Lord, how I hope that I am wrong.

I cannot explain exactly, but I think that Nightcrawler #1 would be different if Marvel were not publishing so many X-Men comic book series.  I think Claremont would have more leeway in what he could do with this character and this series without having to work around all the other X-books.  I hope for better because I really looked forward to this new Nightcrawler comic book series.  I love the character, and I love Claremont writing the X-Men.

Even Todd Nauck’s art is uninspired.  It is like a step down from what he has done before now.  My review grade is generous.

C+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN Volume 1

SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Takaya Kagami
ART: Yamato Yamamoto
STORYBOARDS: Daisuke Furuya
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7150-8; paperback (June 2014), Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S. $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is the latest VIZ Media release under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint.  The series focuses on a teen orphan who borrows demonic power so that he can battle the vampires that rule over the Earth.  The series is illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto with story by Takaya Kagami and storyboards by Daisuke Furuya.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is set on an Earth ruled by vampires.  The vampire reign began in 2012 after the trumpets of the apocalypse proclaimed the fall of humanity.  A mysterious virus kills almost all adult humans, sparing those younger than 13 years of age.  Vampires arise from the shadows to rule the earth and to enslave the children as livestock for food.  In 2016, the orphan Yuichiro “Yu” Hyakuya steps forward, determined to kill all vampires.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 3) opens in 2016.  It finds Yuichiro unhappy with his circumstances as an orphan, but his foster “brother,” Mikaela “Mika” Hyakuya, won’t let Yu be alone.  Together, Mika believes, the orphans will survive their world.

Four years later, Yu is a student at Shibuya High School #2, but he doesn’t want to be a student.  He wants to be a member of humanity’s most elite Vampire Extermination Unit, the Moon Demon Company.  But he will have to prove that he is willing to work in a team, which is the last thing he wants.

I am a big fan of vampire manga (although I generally have not really cared for American comic books featuring vampires).  The Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga is a thoroughly enjoyable read, although I did not think much of it when I received a review copy of the first volume from VIZ Media.

From what I can tell, it seems as if the vast majority of the series’ internal mythology is still unrevealed by the end of Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 1.  Apparently, “Seraph of the End” is an actual thing or entity that may not be revealed for several chapters (or volumes).

That aside, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is like the television series, “The Walking Dead,” a post-apocalyptic character drama and soap opera set in a horror-fantasy scenario.  Both are filled with genre trappings or, to use new terminology, full of stuff from the horror-fantasy wheelhouse.  However, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign works best when seen through the characters’ hopes, dreams, desires, motivations, and conflicts.  So far, all of that seems genuine and honest – in a fantasy context, of course.  Judging by this first volume, I would call Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign a success.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: MILES MORALES: Ultimate Spider-Man #1

MILES MORALES: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: David Marquez
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: David Marquez and Justin Ponsor
VARIANT COVERS: Fiona Staples; Brandon Peterson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2014)

Rated T+

In 2011, Marvel Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis introduced a Black, Brooklyn teen as the new Spider-Man.  Specifically, Miles Morales, of African-American and Latino extraction, was the new Ultimate Spider-Man, the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler and web-slinger of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics (or universe).

Miles received his own comic books series, Ultimate Spider-Man (or Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man).  Now, as part of the “Ultimate Marvel NOW” publishing initiative, Miles gets a new series, Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man, courtesy of writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Marquez, colorist Justin Ponsor, and letterer Cory Petit.

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 opens in a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. “Containment Facility,” from which Norman Osborn is being removed for transferal to a federal prison.  In Brooklyn, two armored thieves commit a bold robbery.  Meanwhile, Miles Morales contemplates revealing his secret to girlfriend Katie Bishop, but the surprise in store for Katie is nothing compared to the surprise in store for Miles.

I have stated in previous reviews of Ultimate Spider-Man comic books that I thought that Brian Michael Bendis merged the best of classic Steve Ditko-Stan Lee Spider-Man and early Milestone Media Static comic books in his stories of Miles Morales as Spider-Man.  Miles’ stories are as much misadventure as they are adventure, because Bendis makes the foibles and trials and tribulations of teen boyhood every bit as engaging as the never-ending battle of a superhero.  Most of the time, I can’t wait for the story to switch from Spider-Man back to Miles Morales’ civilian life.  Well, that is because Miles is a quite interesting young fellow.

In the first Miles Morales series, Bendis was blessed with a fantastic storytelling collaborator, artist Sara Pichelli.  Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man finds Bendis blessed again with another talented collaborator.  David Marquez is rapidly coming into his own in terms of storytelling.  I like Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1; it’s the kind of first issue that has me ready for more.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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