IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for August 13, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

APR140347     DAVE GIBBONS WATCHMEN ARTIFACT ED HC     PI
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APR140409     GI JOE SILENT INTERLUDE 30TH ANNV ED HC     $19.99
JUN140360     GODZILLA CATACLYSM #1     $3.99
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JUN140427     X-FILES SEASON 10 #15     $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 13, 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN140013     ABE SAPIEN #15     $3.50
APR140037     BLACKOUT #4     $2.99
JAN140210     CLASSIC MARVEL UNCANNY X-MEN 94 #1 STORM     $49.95
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JAN140218     LEGEND OF KORRA PINT GLASS SET     $29.99
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APR140089     SAMURAI EXECUTIONER OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 (MR)     $19.99
JUN140090     SIN CITY BUTTONS COUNTER     $200.00
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APR140062     STAR WARS LEGACY II TP VOL 03 WANTED ANIA SOLO     $19.99
MAR140022     STAR WARS LUCAS DRAFT DELUXE ED HC BOX SET     $99.99
JUN140061     TERMINATOR SALVATION FINAL BATTLE #8     $3.99
JUN140032     X #16 (MR)     $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 13, 2014

IMAGE COMICS

JUN140540     BURN THE ORPHANAGE REIGN OF TERROR #4 CVR A GRACE (MR     $3.50
JUN140541     BURN THE ORPHANAGE REIGN OF TERROR #4 CVR B LUCE (MR)     $3.50
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MAY140750     WITCHBLADE #172 VALENTINES SPECIAL CVR     $9.99
MAY140751     ZERO #10 (MR)     $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 13, 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

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JUN141296     EL NINO OMNIBUS HC (MR)     $44.95
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MAY141404     JIM HC     $29.99
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JUN141544     MAGI GN VOL 07     $9.99
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APR140798     MEN OF MYSTERY #93     $29.95
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JUN141310     NEGIMA GN VOL 28 KODANSHA ED NEW PTG (MR)     $10.99
JUN140774     NIGHT O/T LIVING VIDIOTS GN (MR)     $19.95
JUN141106     PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #4 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR     $4.99
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APR141254     PHANTOM COMP SUNDAYS HC VOL 02 1943-1945     $60.00
JUN141335     PRINCESS UGG #3     $3.99
MAY140956     RACHEL RISING #27     $3.99
MAR141089     RED SONJA #11 FRISON CVR     $3.99
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APR141060     RED TEN TP VOL 01     $14.99
MAY141465     ROBOT CLOWN MOB GN (MR)     $9.99
SEP130869     RUN LIKE HELL GN (MR)     $14.99
JUN141385     SAN HANNIBAL #3     $2.99
JUN141160     SANITARIUM #2 (MR)     $3.99
FEB141355     SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 05     $24.99
MAR141264     SHEENA #3     $3.99
DEC130802     SKYWARD #8 MAIN COVERS     $2.99
JUN141362     SMURFS ANTHOLOGY HC VOL 03     $19.99
JAN141243     SNAKEPIT 10 YEAR ANNVERSARY ED GN (MR)     $14.95
MAY141035     SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #263 REG CVR     $2.99
JUN140769     SOUTHERN DOG #1 ROSSMO CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN140930     SPONGEBOB COMICS #35     $2.99
JUN141049     THE DEVILERS #2     $2.99
APR141286     THE PEOPLE INSIDE HC     $24.99
JUN140951     THOMAS ALSOP #3     $3.99
JUN141317     TOWER CHRONICLES DREADSTALKER #1     $3.99
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JUN141496     UNITY #10 REG SUAYAN (AH)     $3.99
JUN141497     UNITY #10 VALIANTCRAFT CVR (AH)     $3.99
MAY148342     UNITY #8 2ND PTG     $3.99
JUN141397     US JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 08     $19.99
MAY140969     VAMPLETS NIGHTMARE NURSERY HC BOOK 02     $15.99
APR141148     WARLORD OF MARS TP VOL 04 (MR)     $24.99
JUN141528     WOLFSMUND GN VOL 05     $12.95
MAY148343     X-O MANOWAR #26 2ND PTG     $3.99
MAY141483     ZOMBILLENIUM HC VOL 02 HUMAN RESOURCES     $14.99

MAGAZINES
MAY141891     BRICKJOURNAL #30     $8.95
JUN141697     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1417     PI
APR141643     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #62 KILLER FROST BLACK PAWN     $16.00
MAY141844     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #63 ZOD BLACK KNIGHT     $16.00
MAY141845     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #64 BRAINIAC BLACK PAWN     $16.00
JUN141710     GIRLS AND CORPSES MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 (MR)     $8.95
APR141669     HOBBY JAPAN JUL 2014     $16.60
JUN141693     JUXTAPOZ #164 SEP 2014     $5.99
APR141647     MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #12 LIZARD BLACK PAWN     $16.00
MAR141582     STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG COLL MAG #21 USS ENTERPRISE E     $20.00
MAR141583     STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG COLL MAG #22 KRENIM TEMPORAL WEAPON     $20.00
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BOOKS
MAY141811     DC SUPER FRIENDS WORD ADV BOARD BOOK SUPERMAN     $6.99
MAY141812     DC SUPER FRIENDS WORD ADV BOARD BOOK WONDER WOMAN     $6.99
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MAY141807     DC YR BOARD BOOK SM SUPERMAN COLORS     $5.99
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MAY141830     DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 76 MINDLESS MONSTERS     $14.95
JUN141474     DON HECK A WORK OF ART HC     $39.95
JUN141661     FOUNDATIONS IN COMIC BOOK ART SCAD CREATIVE ESSENTIALS SC     $24.99
FEB140903     JOSEPH WIGHT ART BOOK TP VOL 01     $25.00
MAY141796     MARVEL COMICS COVER ART HC     $50.00
JUN141618     NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A HERMIT CRAB SC     $9.99
JUN141674     SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 86 TREASURE TRAIL     $14.95
APR141582     SPIDER DOUBLE NOVEL #4 WINGS OF BLACK DEATH     $14.95
MAY142819     WARHAMMER 40K FALL OF MACHARIUS HC     $24.99
MAY142821     WARHAMMER 40K VENGEFUL SPIRIT TP     $20.00

Happy Marriage?! - Will I Be Tied Down to You?

I read Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 7

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

Comics Review: THE STRAIN #6

THE STRAIN #6
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
SCRIPT: David Lapham
ART: Mike Huddleston
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: E.M. Gist
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (July 2012)

Part 6: “Dear Ones”

Some time ago, Dark Horse Comics made PDF copies of all 11 issues of its horror comic book series, The Strain, available to its media mailing list.  This was part of DHC’s promotional effort for the follow-up series, The Strain: The Fall.  Between those PDFs and hard copies, I was able to review all 11 issues of The Strain for the ComicBookBin.

I have previously posted my reviews of The Strain, issues #1 through 5, here on the “I Reads You” blog.  Over the course of the coming weeks, I will post the reviews of issues 6 to 11 on this blog in conjunction with the broadcast of “The Strain,” the television adaptation of the novel that is the source material for both the TV series and Dark Horse’s comic book.  The first episode aired on Sunday night, July 13, 2014 on cable channel, FX, with each new episode airing the following Sunday.

---------------------

The Strain is an 11-issue comic book adaptation of The Strain, a 2009 vampire novel from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and novelist Chuck Hogan.  The adaptation is scripted by David Lapham, drawn by Mike Huddleston, colored by Dan Jackson, and lettered by Clem Robins.

In the story, Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) heads the Canary Project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats.   With his second-in-command, Nora Martinez, Eph has found such a threat at J.F.K. International Airport in New York City.  There, a Boeing 777 went dead silent after landing, while inside, almost all the passengers and crew were dead.

As The Strain #6 opens, Eph and Dr. Martinez tentatively take Professor Abraham Setrakian’s claims seriously.  Someone is going to use the “v” word.  The scientists go to Setrakian’s antique shop, where they visit his basement and see the thing the old man keeps in a jar.

Next, Eph, Martinez, and Setrakian search for the “dear ones,” in a bid to track the path of the strange virus that could destroy life in New York City.  Meanwhile, Eldritch Palmer, CEO of the Stoneheart Group, tries to resolve some loose ends in the part he plays in the growing horror.

It has been two months since I last read the fifth issue of The Strain, and it is still good as I remember.  By now, this series is a back issue, with second trade due to arrive and the second series (entitled The Fall) preparing to launch.  New release or back issue, The Strain is a great read.

If The Strain does not become a perennial or backlist favorite, then, the comic book gods must be crazy.  Lapham and Huddleston’s efforts have earned readers’ notice.  Fans of horror comic books should get The Strain.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Manga Review: SPELL OF DESIRE Volume 1

SPELL OF DESIRE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Tomu Ohmi
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
LETTERS: Monalisa de Asis
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6775-4; paperback (August 2014); Rated “M” for “Mature”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Tomu Ohmi is a female mangaka who made her debut in 2000.  VIZ Media is currently publishing the English-language version of her series, Midnight Secretary.  The San Francisco-based publisher is also making her most recent series, Spell of Desire, available to North American readers.

Spell of Desire focuses on Kaoruko “Koko” Mochizuki owns and operates an herb shop in a small seaside town in Japan.  One day, a mysterious man dressed in black walks into the Moon Witch Herb Shop and introduces himself as Kaname Hibiki.  Kaname tells Kaoruko that she is actually a witch and that he has arrived to help her control the power that is awakening in her.

Spell of Desire, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) opens with the arrival of Kaname.  He is bringing shocking news about Koko and her mother and grandmother.  He says that he is a “Knight.”  He tells her about being the target of humans and demons alike.  And now her customers think that Kaoruko finally has a boyfriend.  Kaoruko wants to reject Kaname, but then, he steals a kiss…

It is worth comparing the Spell of Desire manga to Midnight Secretary, the previous manga produced by Spell of Desire creator, Tomu Ohmi.  Midnight Secretary is by turns sweet and silly and also dark and mysterious.  Its scenario is playful, which belies the danger inherent in some characters.

Spell of Desire seems like something I’ve read countless times before.  While Midnight Secretary manages to be different as vampire fiction, Spell of Desire scenario of the Knight-without-shining-armor rescuing the magical-novice-damsel seems a bit soft.  The best scenes are the ones featuring Kaname’s familiars, Dragon and Unicorn.  Like Midnight Secretary, I think Spell of Desire will start to differentiate itself in the second and third volumes.  Meanwhile, Spell of Desire Volume 1 has beautiful art, but the magic does not crackle.  Still, Fans of Tomu Ohmi may want to try Spell of Desire.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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