Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 18 2014

IMAGE COMICS

APR140557 ALEX + ADA #7 $2.99
MAR140562 APHRODITE IX #11 $3.99
APR140565 DRUMHELLAR #6 CVR A ROSSMO (MR) $3.50
APR140566 DRUMHELLAR #6 CVR B TEMPLESMITH (MR) $3.50
FEB140600 FATALE #23 (MR) $3.50
FEB140525 GLORY COMPLETE SAGA HC $34.99
APR148250 INVINCIBLE #111 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
APR140574 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #21 $3.50
MAR148190 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #21 BLANK SKETCH CVR $3.50
APR140577 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #11 CVR A OEMING $3.99
APR140578 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #11 CVR B SANTOS & FREE $3.99
APR140579 MINIMUM WAGE #6 (MR) $3.50
APR140580 MPH #2 CVR A FEGREDO $2.99
APR140581 MPH #2 CVR B CANETE $2.99
APR148239 MPH #2 CVR C LEINIL YU $2.99
APR148240 MPH #2 CVR D LEINIL YU $2.99
OCT130620 SAVAGE DRAGON #195 (MR) $3.99
APR140596 SEX CRIMINALS #6 (MR) $3.50
FEB140537 VELVET TP VOL 01 BEFORE THE LIVING END (MR) $9.99
APR140486 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR) $3.50
FEB148313 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR B MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR) $3.50
FEB148314 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR C OMALLEY (MR) $3.50

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 18 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR140956 A PIGGYS TALE #2 $2.99
APR141004 ADVENTURE TIME #29 MAIN CVRS $3.99
APR141014 ADVENTURE TIME ENCHIRIDION ED HC VOL 01 $74.99
FEB141091 ADVENTURE TIME SUGARY SHORTS HC VOL 01 NYCC EXC $49.99
APR141170 ALICE THE 101ST GN VOL 04 $12.95
NOV130802 ALL NEW FATHOM #7 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
NOV130803 ALL NEW FATHOM #7 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
JAN140887 ALL NEW SOULFIRE #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
JAN140888 ALL NEW SOULFIRE #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
MAR140834 ARCHIE #656 REG CVR $2.99
MAR140838 ARCHIE FUNHOUSE DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #6 $5.99
FEB120952 ART OF RAMONA FRADON HC SIGNED ED $49.99
APR141289 AUTEUR #4 (MR) $3.99
FEB141023 BALLISTIC #5 (MR) $3.50
APR141478 BATTLE ROYALE ANGELS BORDER GN (MR) $12.99
MAR141123 BIONIC MAN TP VOL 03 END OF EVERYTHING $24.99
MAR141013 BLAKE & MORTIMER GN VOL 18 OATH FIVE LORDS $15.95
APR140831 CAVEWOMAN 20TH ANN 2014 FULL COLOR SHOWBOOK (MR) PI
DEC130985 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #10 (MR) $3.99
MAR141122 DARK SHADOWS YEAR ONE TP $24.99
MAR141150 DF DEJAH OF MARS #1 RISQUE DF EXCLUSIVE CVR $29.99
APR140894 DICKS TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99
APR141095 DOODLE JUMP #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99
APR141091 DOODLE JUMP #1 CVR A GRAN $3.99
APR141092 DOODLE JUMP #1 CVR B UY $3.99
APR141093 DOODLE JUMP #1 CVR C SILVANI $3.99
APR141203 EC JOHN SEVERIN BOMB RUN HC $29.99
JAN140852 EDGE OF EMPIRE #2 $3.99
FEB141541 ESCAPO HC $24.99
APR141264 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 39 $10.99
APR140876 FATHOM ANNUAL #1 $5.99
FEB141542 FEAR MY DEAR BILLY DOGMA EXPERIENCE HC $19.99
MAR140794 FEMFORCE #167 $9.95
MAR140801 FINAL PLAGUE TP (MR) $14.99
APR141526 GFT ASCENSION #5 A CVR SEJIC $3.99
APR141527 GFT ASCENSION #5 B CVR MYCHAELS $3.99
APR141528 GFT ASCENSION #5 C CVR VALENTINO $3.99
APR141501 GFT NEVERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS #4 A CVR MASSAFERA $2.99
APR141502 GFT NEVERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS #4 B CVR METCALF $2.99
APR141503 GFT NEVERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS #4 C CVR CHA $2.99
APR141504 GFT WONDERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS A CVR SPAY (AOFD) $5.99
APR141505 GFT WONDERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS B CVR HAMMOND (AOFD) $5.99
APR141506 GFT WONDERLAND AGE OF DARKNESS C CVR VALENTINO (AOFD) $5.99
APR141533 GFT WONDERLAND ASYLUM TP $15.99
APR141430 HARBINGER #24 CVR A LAROSA $3.99
FEB141409 HARVEY HORRORS COLL PACK WITCHES TALES SOFTIE SLIPCASE ED $109.99
APR141171 HENTAI PRINCE AND THE STONY CAT GN VOL 02 $12.95
MAR141016 LARGO WINCH GN VOL 13 COLD BLACK SEA $11.95
APR140992 LAST BROADCAST #2 (MR) $3.99
APR140822 LAST WEST GN $14.99
MAR140972 LOKI RAGNAROK & ROLL #4 $3.99
MAR140807 LUNITA #3 (MR) $3.99
APR141104 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #4 $3.99
APR141443 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ORIGIN HC VOL 06 $29.95
APR141265 NO 6 GN VOL 07 $10.99
APR141063 PHOTOBOOTH A BIOGRAPHY GN (MR) $20.00
APR141393 PINOCCHIO VAMPIRE SLAYER GN COMPLETE ED (MR) $24.95
FEB141185 RED SONJA #10 FRISON CVR $3.99
FEB141186 RED SONJA #10 SOHN CVR $3.99
MAR141094 RED SONJA OMNIBUS TP VOL 05 $29.99
APR141127 RED SONJA SANCTUARY ONE SHOT $4.99
MAR140994 REGULAR SHOW 2014 ANNUAL #1 $4.99
OCT131289 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS BRIEFER FRANKENSTEIN HC 1947 $47.99
FEB141410 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS BRIEFER FRANKENSTEIN SLIPCASE 1947 $64.99
APR141267 SAY I LOVE YOU GN VOL 02 $10.99
APR141047 SCHOOL BITES GN VOL 01 $12.95
APR141048 SCHOOL BITES GN VOL 02 $12.95
APR141043 SIMPSONS COMICS #212 $2.99
APR141045 SPONGEBOB COMICS ANNUAL GIANT SWIMTACULAR #2 $4.99
MAR141167 STEVE DITKO ARCHIVES TP VOL 01 STRANGE SUSPENSE $28.99
MAR141008 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #86 DLX ED (MR) $19.99
FEB141222 THE LONE RANGER #25 $3.99
APR140970 THOMAS ALSOP #1 $3.99
APR140976 TRANSLUCID #3 $3.99
MAR140829 TUGG THE BULL TERRIER #1 $3.99
APR141163 TWILIGHT ZONE ANNUAL 2014 $7.99
APR141162 TWILIGHT ZONE TP VOL 01 $15.99
APR141416 UNITY #8 CHROMIUM SUAYAN (AH) $5.99
APR141415 UNITY #8 REG SUAYAN (AH) $3.99
MAR141164 WITZEND HC BOX SET WALLY WOOD $125.00
APR148002 WOODS #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99
APR141269 XXXHOLIC OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 $19.99
APR148251 ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 2 TP (MR) $11.99

MAGAZINES
FEB141415 2000 AD PACK APR 2014 $26.75
MAR141623 CINEMA RETRO #29 (MR) $11.99
APR141658 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1409 PI
APR141660 COMIC SHOP NEWS SUMMER 2014 PREVIEW PI
MAR141607 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #473 $9.99
APR141666 MONSTER BASH #22 $8.99
JAN141527 STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG COLL MAG #17 USS DAUNTLESS $20.00

BOOKS
MAR141544 ANDREAE SKETCHBOOK (MR) $30.00
MAR141545 BELLAMY SKETCHBOOK #3 (MR) $30.00
APR141552 COMICS GLOBAL HISTORY 1968 TO PRESENT SC (MR) $39.95
JAN141205 CORK HIGH AND BOTTLE DEEP HC VIRGIL PARTCH $19.99
MAR141546 CRISSE SKETCHBOOK #2 (MR) $30.00
FEB140950 GLENN FABRY SKETCHBOOK SC VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
MAR141569 NEIL GAIMAN TRUTH IS CAVE IN BLACK MOUNTAINS ILLUS HC $21.99
MAR141328 PETER KUPER SYSTEM HC GN $19.95
FEB141335 STATUS FACTORY ART OF RON ENGLISH HC (MR) $39.95
APR141538 TEASE TO PLEASE EROTIC ART OF ADRIAN VELEZ SC (MR) $14.95
MAR142394 WARHAMMER 40K NIGHT LORDS OMNIBUS SC $17.50
MAR141573 WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED 1979-2014 HC (MR) $29.95

Magi: All About the Kou Empire Benjamins

I read Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 6

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

Book Review: SLEEP TIGHT, ANNA BANANA

SLEEP TIGHT, ANNA BANANA
FIRST SECOND BOOKS – @01FirstSecond

WRITER: Dominique Roques
TRANSLATION: Mark Siegel
ART: Alexis Dormal
LETTERS: Marion Vitus
ISBN: 978-1-62672-019-0; hardcover (June 17, 2014) 10.5” x 7.75”
24pp, Color, $15.99 US, $18.50 CAN

Ages: 3 to 7-years-old

First Second Books is bringing Anna Banana to America.  This little star of European children’s books is the creation of Dominique Roques and Alexis Dormal, a mother-son author-illustrator team that creates children’s picture books.  Their bio says that when Dominique discovered that one of her two sons, Alexis, had become a picture book illustrator, she began writing stories for him to illustrate.

Together they have published several picture books starring Anna Banana.  Last year, I discovered that First Second Books was going to publish one of them, Ana Ana – Douce nuit, in the spring of 2014 as Sleep Tight, Anna Banana.  The title attracted me because I have a niece named Anna, so last year, I asked First Second for a copy for review.  They remembered, and I received a copy just recently.

Sleep Tight, Anna Banana introduces Anna Banana, a lively little girl who can be a fearsome tyrant to her stuffed animal toys.  These anthropomorphic stuffed animal pals are Zigzag (a rabbit), Fuzzball (some kind of Muppet-like monster), Pingpong (a penguin), Foxface (a fox), Whaley (a whale), and Grizzler (a bear).  One night, Anna is enjoying a good book, so she is not ready to settle down and go to sleep.  However, Anna’s stuffed animal friends are tired and just want to go to sleep.  Now, they have to turn the tables on Anna, but can they win?

I have been eagerly anticipating Sleep Tight, Anna Banana’s release, and having just read it, I am not disappointed.  This is a children’s picture book.  While the story is told by an unseen narrator, Anna’s dialogue is spoken in word balloons.  In a way, Sleep Tight, Anna Banana blurs the line between the children’s picture book and the comic book or graphic novel.

This format allows the narrator to tell a lively story, but Anna’s dialogue is what really punctuates the action and conflict in the story.  Mark Siegel’s translation of Dominique Roques’ exposition and dialogue seems to match Alexis Dormal’s illustrated and graphical storytelling.  This allows readers to get the best of both the picture book and comic book formats.

First Second plans on publishing a second Anna Banana book in 2015, and this first book is an excellent way to introduce what is an inspired concept for a children’s book.  Sleep Tight, Anna Banana is one of my favorite reads of the year, and my only complaint is that I wish it were longer.  Adults looking for a good picture book for readers 3 to 7-years-old will want to choose Sleep Tight, Anna Banana.

A

www.dargaud.com
www.firstsecondbooks.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

I Reads Happy Father's Day 2014

I Reads You wishes a Happy Father's Day to all the fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers (and other greats), uncles, cousins, big brothers, stepfathers, surrogate dads, coaches, and others who act as stand-in father figures.  That includes all the women out there who also stand-in as a male role model and/or provider.  Have a great day!

Deadman Wonderland: Liar Flower

I read Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is in need of donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED #1

CLIVE BARKER’S NIGHTBREED #1
BOOM! Studios

STORY: Clive Barker
WRITER: Marc Andreyko
ARTIST: Piotr Kowalski
COLORS: Juan Manuel Tumburus
LETTERS: Ed Dukeshire
COVER: Riley Rossmo
VARIANT COVER: Christopher Mitten (B); Mike Mignola (C); Matthew Roberts (Cards, Comics & Collectibles Exclusive Cover); Tony Harris (Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Cover)
24pp, Colors, $3.99 U.S. (May 2014)

Suggested for mature readers

Famed horror author, Clive Barker, adapted his 1988 fantasy-horror novel, Cabal, into a film entitled Nightbreed.  In both the film and the novel (sometimes listed as a novella), the focus is Aaron Boone, a young man who is an unstable mental patient.  Boone believes that he is a serial killer, because his doctor tells him that he is.  Events lead Boone to an abandoned cemetery connected to a deserted town named Midian.

There, he encounters a community of monsters and outcasts (also called the “Tribes of the Moon”), known as the “Nightbreed” (called “Night Breed” in the book) that hides from humanity.  Boone becomes one of them and protects them from an assault by outside forces, including his doctor and local police.  Boone soon becomes the Nightbreed’s savior, as he leads them on a quest to find a new home.

Released in 1990, Nightbreed was not well received, at the box office or with critics.  However, I loved the movie.  I loved its characters, concepts, setting, and Danny Elfman’s dark and beautiful score.  To be honest, I thought that there were things about the film that needed improvement, but I still loved me some Nightbreed.

In the early 1990s, Marvel Comics published Nightbreed, a comic book follow-up to the film, which ran for 25 issues, and there was also a two-issue crossover with the Hellraiser franchise (also a creation of Clive Barker), entitled Hellraiser vs. Nightbreed: Jihad.  Boom! Studios returns Barker’s “Tribes of the Moon” to comic books in a new series, Clive Barker’s Nightbreed, written by Marc Andreyko, drawn by Piotr Kowalski, colored by Juan Manuel Tumburus, and lettered by Ed Dukeshire.

Clive Barker’s Nightbreed #1 opens in the present, where we meet Dirk Lylesburg, leader of the Nightbreed, who acts as a sort of narrator.  Then, the story moves into the past.  The first tale takes place in July 1857, in a swamp outside Lacombe, Louisiana.  Two runaway slaves, a man and woman who are apparently a couple, desperately try to avoid a slave patrol.  However, an encounter with Peloquin will change their lives, especially for one of the slaves.  Next, the story moves to Boston, Massachusetts in April 1945.  Senator Harold Emery separates from his friends so that he can visit a local cathouse, where he will meet Shuna Sassi.

Normally, I would admit that there is not enough in this first issue to render judgment on the series or even to give this first issue a grade.  But as an African-American of possible Nightbreed extraction, I am so very happy that both my peoples are represented in this fine comic book, so I will give it a good grade.

Seriously, the storytelling by artist Piotr Kowalski is moody and alluring, drawn in a sharp line and with matter-of-fact compositions.  Juan Manuel Tumburus’ rich colors are vivid during the violent scenes and shimmers to give the Boston house of ill repute a magical quality that it needs within the context of this story.

Writer Marc Andreyko gets it, and what is “it?”  It is the thing that is Nightbreed, and if we can’t have Clive Barker, Andreyko is the surrogate who will return us to the world of Midian and her children, the Tribes of the Moon that are the Nightbreed.

A

www.boom-studios.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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