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I read Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 8

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I Reads You Review: TUKI #1

TÜKI #1
CARTOON BOOKS – @cartoonbooksinc

CARTOONIST: Jeff Smith – @jeffsmithbone
COLORS: Tom Gaadt
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Tüki is the latest comics project from cartoonist Jeff Smith, the award-winning creator of the comic book series, Bone and Rasl.  Tüki began publication in late 2013 as a webcomic published on Smith's website, Boneville.com.  Tüki has already won a 2014 National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award in the category of “Online-Long Form,” for webcomics.  About four months ago, Cartoon Books began publishing Tüki as a full-color comic book.  According to information found in the comic book, Tüki is the story of the first human to leave Africa.

Tüki #1 introduces the title character, Tüki, a male character.  Tüki belongs to one of the early hominid species, Homo erectus, which were apparently the first humans to harness fire and to leave Africa.  Tüki takes place during an as yet indeterminate time, but it seems to be several millenia after the Ice Age changed the world 2,000,000 years ago.  During his search for food and water, Tüki encounters a strange old man who belongs to another early hominid species, Homo habilus.  The old man insists that he has an important message for Tüki, or, at least, he thinks it's important.

The art in Tüki #1 is printed in the landscape format, so reading it is like trying to read several pages of a wall calendar.  Normally, I would be annoyed by this, except that the art is so beautiful, not only because of Smith's compositions, but also because of Tom Gaadt's lush and shimmering coloring.  As a visual experience, this reminds me of Walt Disney's classic animated feature film, The Lion King.

The story is intriguing.  It takes place in a part of human history in which so little is known, and that gives Tüki #1 the feel of a mystery story.  Smith's art captures the naturalism of living hand-to-mouth and by one's wits and the skills learned and experience gained.  This matter-of-fact way of survival adds to the sense of the unknown or even the unknowable.

There is always a sense of mystery about Jeff Smith's comics, as if there is a great unknown hiding far back in each panel, too far to be seen by the reader.  So I need to read more before I can definitively or at least solidly grade this, but I can say at this point that it's quite good.  I'm intrigued, so I will give it a tentative grade.

A-

http://www.boneville.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: VAMPIRE KNIGHT Volume 19

VAMPIRE KNIGHT, VOL. 19
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Matsuri Hino
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7391-5; paperback (October 2014); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Vampire Knight is a shojo manga series written and drawn by manga creator, Matsuri Hino.  The series premiered and was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, LaLa.  VIZ Media publishes Vampire Knight in North America, collecting the manga in a series of graphic novels.  VIZ Media recently published Vampire Knight Volume 19, the final volume of the graphic novel series.

Vampire Knight is set in and around Cross Academy.  This is a private boarding school with two classes:  the Day Class and the Night Class.  At twilight, the Day Class students return to their dorm and cross paths with the Night Class.  They don't know that the Night Class students are actually vampires.  Yuki Cross is the adopted daughter of Headmaster Kaien Cross, and she is also a pure-blood vampire.  Zero Kiryu is a human suffering from the curse of the vampire.  Together, they are the Guardians of the school, patrolling the hallways and school grounds to protect the Day Class humans from the Night Class vampires.

As Vampire Knight, Vol. 19 (Chapters 89 to 92 to The Final Night) opens, Cross Academy will be closed again.  This time it will become the headquarters of the Hunter Society.  Meanwhile, Yuki has stolen Zero's memories of her to free him, and she plans on giving her own life to turn her brother, the pure-blood vampire, Kaname Kuran, into a human.

Kaname, however, plans to die so that his body can create new vampire-killing weapons for the Hunter Society.  The other vampires are determined to stop him, and that means war between humans and vampires.  Eternity is at stake, and Yuki and Kaname try to change destiny.

So the Vampire Knight manga has come to an end, and I didn't see it coming.  I don't know if other regular readers of the series will be satisfied with this finale.  I'm not.  Vampire Knight Volume 19 is not of poor quality.  It just seems like an untidy semi-rush job on the part of creator, Matsuri Hino.  Or maybe I'm in denial.

Vampire Knight has always been melodramatic, edgy, and bloody, and Vol. 19 is certainly that.  As usual, all the characters seem emotionally, if not mentally unhinged in this final graphic novel, and that offers some enjoyable vampire soap opera.  To the end, it's all crazy love, so at least the narrative is consistent to the end.

B

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: SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Georgia Ball, Dan Abnett
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds, Anthony Williams
INKS: Scott Jeralds, Jeff Albrecht
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Jenna Garcia
EDITOR: Aniz Adam Ansari
COVER: Scott Jeralds and Candace Schinzler-Bell
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (November 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

A little over a year ago, I bought a subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  The school my nephew attends was selling magazine subscriptions as a fundraiser, for the entire school or a for particular program – I don't remember.  While reading the fund-raising brochure, I saw that a subscription to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Was offered, and I thought, “I wanna read that!”  Well, issue #50 is the last of my subscription, and I am still deciding if I want to renew.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 opens with “The Scare Witch Project” (written by Georgia Ball and drawn by Scott Jeralds).  Mystery Inc. is in British Columbia for some skiing, when they discover that the ski lodge where they are staying is being terrorized by a “spirit.”  That spirit is “The Dzunakwa,” a witch of legend that haunts the woods of British Columbia.  And, of course, the gang won't let any witch or spirit mess up their vacation.

“The Italian Hellion!” (written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Anthony Williams and Jeff Albrecht) finds the gang overseas in Venice, Italy.  Velma wants to see the sites of an historic city.  Fred and Daphne are there for the romance.  Of course, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo look forward to spaghetti, meatballs, and the annual Gelato Festival.  Instead, they find their plans delayed by the mystery of the “Phantom of the Canals.”  This ghostly gondolier has apparently come back to haunt Venice, but Mystery Inc. plans to put this phantom out of business.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 offers two of my favorite kinds of Scooby-Doo adventures:  the mystery set in a snowy climate and the case set in an international locale.  “The Scare Witch Project” is the new story, and “The Italian Hellion!” is a reprint from the previous series (Scooby-Doo #56).  In fact, both stories feature the kind of faux-supernatural adversary similar to the types that appeared in early Scooby-Doo animated series.  I wouldn't mind seeing the Phantom of the Canals, again.

I also noticed something a little strange about the art.  Scott Jeralds replicates classic animated Mystery Inc. in “The Scare Witch Project.”  The Scooby gang members look like they should, and Jeralds also draws the other characters so that they are graphically and visually similar to the gang.  In “The Italian Hellion,” penciller Anthony Williams draws Mystery Inc. in their classic look, but the other characters look as if they were drawn by a different artist.  Odd, at least, I think so.

Should I continue past Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50?  I am having a good time...

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 15, 2014

DC COMICS

JUL140255     ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN TP VOL 02     $14.99
JUN140274     BATMAN 66 HC VOL 02     $19.99
JUL140252     BATMAN 66 TP VOL 01     $14.99
AUG140283     BATMAN AND ROBIN #35 (ROBIN RISES)     $2.99
AUG140265     BATMAN ETERNAL #28     $2.99
JUN140264     BATMAN HC VOL 05 ZERO YEAR DARK CITY (N52)     $24.99
AUG140275     BATMAN SUPERMAN #15     $3.99
AUG140278     BATMAN SUPERMAN #15 COMBO PACK     $4.99
AUG140287     BATWOMAN #35     $2.99
AUG140189     EARTH 2 WORLDS END #2     $2.99
AUG140361     FABLES #145 (DEFY) (MR)     $2.99
AUG140303     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #35 (GODHEAD)     $2.99
JUL140283     HELLBLAZER TP VOL 09 CRITICAL MASS (MR)     $19.99
AUG140317     INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #4     $3.99
AUG140226     JUSTICE LEAGUE #35     $3.99
AUG140229     JUSTICE LEAGUE #35 COMBO PACK     $4.99
JUL140244     JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 TP VOL 01 YESTERDAY LIVES (N52)     $16.99
AUG140349     MAD MAGAZINE #530     $5.99
AUG140219     NEW 52 FUTURES END #24 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
AUG140288     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #35     $2.99
AUG140261     SUPERGIRL #35 (DOOMED)     $2.99
AUG140214     TEEN TITANS #3     $2.99
AUG140346     TEEN TITANS GO #6     $2.99
AUG140209     TRINITY OF SIN #1     $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR140302     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE HARLEY QUINN 2ND ED STATUE     $79.95
APR140318     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE ZOMBIE BATMAN ADAMS     $79.95
MAY140430     BLACK LANTERN 1:1 SCALE POWER BATTERY PROP W RING     $199.95
MAY140435     SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED MINI FIGURES SER 4     PI
APR140319     WONDER WOMAN VS HYDRA MINI PATINA STATUE     $124.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 15, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

JUL140737     ALL NEW ULTIMATES TP VOL 01 POWER FOR POWER     $17.99
JUL140731     ALL NEW X-FACTOR TP VOL 02 CHANGE OF DECAY     $17.99
JUL140726     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 PARKER LUCK     $17.99
AUG140728     AVENGERS AND X-MEN AXIS #2     $3.99
AUG140794     AVENGERS WORLD #14     $3.99
AUG140842     DAREDEVIL #9     $3.99
JUN140733     DAREDEVIL TP VOL 01 DEVIL AT BAY     $17.99
JUL140733     DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU TP OUT OF PAST     $16.99
JUN140716     DEADPOOL DRACULAS GAUNTLET HC     $34.99
AUG140882     DEADPOOLS ART OF WAR #1     $3.99
JUN140603     DEATH OF WOLVERINE #4     $4.99
AUG140748     DEATH OF WOLVERINE LOGAN LEGACY #1     $3.99
AUG140804     EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #5     $3.99
AUG140845     FANTASTIC FOUR #11     $3.99
AUG140826     HULK #7     $3.99
AUG148031     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #2 2ND PTG MEDINA VAR     $3.99
AUG148032     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #3 2ND PTG MEDINA VAR     $3.99
AUG140740     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #7 AXIS     $3.99
AUG140739     MAGNETO #11 AXIS     $3.99
JUL140742     MARVEL ZOMBIES TP VOL 03 COMPLETE COLLECTION     $34.99
AUG140862     MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #6     $3.99
MAY140925     MMW MS MARVEL HC VOL 01     $69.99
AUG140834     MS MARVEL #9     $2.99
JUN140725     MS MARVEL TP VOL 01 NO NORMAL     $15.99
AUG140786     NEW AVENGERS #25 TRO     $3.99
AUG140793     ORIGINAL SIN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
AUG140889     PAINKILLER JANE 22 BRIDES #3 (MR)     $3.99
JUL140707     POWERS TP VOL 01 WHO KILLED RETRO GIRL NEW PTG (MR)     $15.99
AUG140809     SPIDER-MAN 2099 #5 EOSV     $3.99
JUL140741     SPIDER-MAN NEWSPAPER STRIPS TP VOL 02     $34.99
AUG140886     STORM #4     $3.99
AUG140806     SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #16     $3.99
AUG140768     THANOS A GOD UP THERE LISTENING #2     $3.99
JUL140725     THOR EPIC COLLECTION TP GOD OF THUNDER     $34.99
AUG140873     UNCANNY X-MEN #27     $3.99
AUG140880     WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #10     $4.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 15, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

APR140453     ADVENTURE KARTEL HC     $75.00
JUL140427     BLAZE BROTHERS TP VOL 01     $17.99
AUG140490     JUDGE DREDD #24     $3.99
JUN140460     SKIPPY HC VOL 03 COMPLETE DAILIES 1931-1933     $49.99
AUG140405     SKYLANDERS #1     $3.99
AUG140397     TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #16     $3.99
AUG140395     TMNT ONGOING #39     $3.99