Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 17, 2014

IMAGE COMICS

MAR130557     ACTIVITY #16     $4.50
OCT140729     ALEX + ADA #11     $2.99
SEP140600     BUSHIDO TP (MR)     $19.99
OCT140736     DRIFTER #2 CVR A KLEIN (MR)     $3.50
OCT140737     DRIFTER #2 CVR B CLOONAN (MR)     $3.50
OCT140625     DRUMHELLAR TP VOL 02 DOGS AND GODS     $14.99
OCT140742     GONERS #3     $2.99
OCT140704     IMAGE FIRSTS COWL #1 (MR)     $1.00
OCT140703     IMAGE FIRSTS FADE OUT #1 (MR)     $1.00
OCT140745     INTERSECT #2 CVR A FAWKES (MR)     $3.50
OCT140746     INTERSECT #2 CVR B KINDT (MR)     $3.50
SEP140624     KRAMPUS TP     $12.99
OCT140748     LIL DEPRESSED BOY SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TOO #3     $3.99
SEP140733     MANIFEST DESTINY #12 (MR)     $2.99
SEP140636     MICE TEMPLAR TP VOL 04 .2 LEGEND PT 2     $17.99
OCT140752     ODDLY NORMAL #4 CVR A FRAMPTON     $2.99
OCT140753     ODDLY NORMAL #4 CVR B MOMMAERTS     $2.99
OCT148181     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #2 3RD PTG (MR)     $2.99
OCT148182     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #5 2ND PTG (MR)     $2.99
OCT140580     RUMBLE #1 (MR)     $3.50
OCT140644     SAGA TP VOL 04 (MR)     $14.99
OCT140648     SAVAGE DRAGON A NEW BEGINNING TP     $16.99
AUG140609     THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 04 (MR)     $14.99
OCT140670     WALKING DEAD FREE NEGAN SHIRT SM MEN     $19.99
OCT140775     WAYWARD #5 CVR A CUMMING & BONVILLAIN (MR)     $3.50
OCT140776     WAYWARD #5 CVR B SAUVAGE (MR)     $3.50
OCT140611     WICKED & DIVINE #6 (MR)     $3.50
OCT148180     WICKED & DIVINE #6 CVR B LAFUENTE (MR)     $3.50
SEP140690     WILDFIRE TP VOL 01     $14.99
OCT140779     WYTCHES #3 (MR)     $2.99
OCT140780     ZERO #13 (MR)     $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

APR148317     WALKING DEAD TV 10IN RICK GRIMES DLX AF     PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 17, 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG141684     13 COINS #3 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141200     ADV TIME BANANA GUARD ACADEMY #6 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
OCT141007     AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE MAGAZINE #3     $4.99
OCT141766     AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA GN VOL 10     $12.99
AUG141633     AGE OF WOLF GN     $27.99
SEP141227     AND THEN EMILY WAS GONE #5 (MR)     $3.50
OCT141431     ANNA & FROGA THRILLS SPILLS & GOOSEBERRIES HC     $14.95
OCT141541     ANNIHILATOR #4     $3.99
OCT141057     ANOTHER SUBURBAN ROMANCE COLOR ED TP (MR)     $9.99
JUL140826     ARCHIE ROCKIN THE WORLD TP     $9.99
OCT141403     ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 4 #1 RARE ADAMS VIRGIN ED     $50.00
OCT141404     ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 4 #1 RARE FLANAGAN VIRGIN ED     $50.00
OCT141406     ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 4 #1 RARE SEELEY BLOOD RED ED     PI
OCT141239     BEARDO TP VOL 02 BREW HARDER     $19.95
OCT141339     BOBS BURGERS #5     $3.99
OCT141408     BSG DEATH OF APOLLO #1 RARE MAYHEW VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
SEP141518     BUNKER #8 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141631     CAPTAIN STONE #1     $3.99
SEP141611     CITRUS GN VOL 01 (MR)     $13.99
SEP140957     CRIMSON SOCIETY #3 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141343     DAMNATION CHARLIE WORMWOOD #3     $3.99
SEP141613     DANCE IN VAMPIRE BUND PART 2 SCARLET ORDER GN VOL 01 (MR)     $12.99
OCT141704     DEATH DEFYING DR MIRAGE #4 CVR A WADA (VF)     $3.99
OCT148207     DEEP STATE #1 (2ND PTG)     $3.99
AUG141466     DF DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #1-4 SET SWIERCZYNSKI RED SGN     PI
AUG141464     DF DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #1-4 SET SWIERCZYNSKI SGN     PI
APR141201     DF DOCTOR WHO #1 11TH CGC GRADED 9.8     $89.99
APR141200     DF DOCTOR WHO #1 1OTH CGC GRADED 9.8     $89.99
JUN141202     DF EMPTY MAN #1 SGN CULLEN BUNN     $29.99
OCT141442     DF HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #1 DF EXC MAYHEW SGN     $25.00
OCT141344     DJANGO ZORRO #2 CVR A LEE MAIN     $3.99
JUL141429     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #5 REG GLASS     $3.99
JUL141430     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #5 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
OCT141768     DOGS GN VOL 09 (MR)     $12.99
OCT141770     DOROHEDORO GN VOL 14 (MR)     $12.99
SEP141585     DREDD UPRISE #2     $3.99
SEP141386     EARTHLING GN (MR)     $19.95
SEP140950     FEMFORCE #169     $9.95
OCT141351     FLASH GORDON HOLIDAY SPEC 2014 CVR A SHANER MAIN     $5.99
JAN141151     GAME OF THRONES #23 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141182     GARFIELD TP VOL 05     $13.99
OCT141802     GFT CINDERELLA #2 A CVR ORTIZ (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
OCT141803     GFT CINDERELLA #2 B CVR LAISO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
OCT141804     GFT CINDERELLA #2 C CVR ANDOLFO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
OCT141805     GFT TALES FROM OZ #5 A CVR WIMBERLY     $3.99
OCT141806     GFT TALES FROM OZ #5 B CVR MYCHAELS     $3.99
OCT141807     GFT TALES FROM OZ #5 C CVR MALSUNI     $3.99
SEP141614     GIRLS UND PANZER LITTLE ARMY GN VOL 01     $12.99
SEP141615     HAGANAI I DONT HAVE MANY FRIENDS CLUB MINUTES GN (MR)     $12.99
OCT141701     HARBINGER FAITH #0 CVR A QUINONES     $3.99
OCT141702     HARBINGER FAITH #0 CVR B KNISLEY     $3.99
OCT141144     HELLRAISER BESTIARY #5 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141141     IMAGINE AGENTS TP VOL 01     $14.99
OCT141159     JIM HENSONS STORYTELLER WITCHES #4     $3.99
SEP141622     JOHN CARPENTERS ASYLUM HC VOL 01 (MR)     $34.99
SEP141584     JUDGE DREDD DAILY DREDDS HC     $52.99
SEP141010     JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #8     $4.99
OCT141364     JUSTICE INC #5 CVR A ROSS MAIN     $3.99
JUL141304     KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #215     $5.99
OCT141373     LONE RANGER TP VOL 08 LONG ROAD HOME     $19.99
OCT141371     LONE RANGER VINDICATED #2     $3.99
OCT141166     LUMBERJANES #9     $3.99
SEP141271     MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #9 CVR A LAU MAIN     $3.99
OCT141534     MANGA DOGS GN VOL 02     $10.99
OCT141020     MEGA MAN #44 REG CVR     $3.99
OCT141714     MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ORIGIN HC VOL 08     $29.95
SEP141646     MONO #1     $3.99
OCT141238     NEXT TOWN OVER TP VOL 01 MAYBE NEXT TIME (MR)     $15.99
OCT141188     PEANUTS VOL 2 #24     $3.99
OCT141432     PIPPI WONT GROW UP HC     $14.95
OCT141705     Q2 RTN QUANTUM & WOODY #3 CVR A BRIGHT     $3.99
OCT141161     ROCKET SALVAGE #1     $3.99
SEP140962     SCUM O/T EARTH TP (MR)     $11.99
OCT141422     SHAFT #1 RARE FRANCAVILLA VIRGIN ART ED (MR)     $50.00
SEP141662     SHERWOOD TX #5     $3.99
OCT141118     SIMPSONS COMICS #216     $2.99
SEP141232     SOLITARY #1 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141025     SONIC SUPER DIGEST #10     $4.99
OCT141154     SONS OF ANARCHY #16 (MR)     $3.99
OCT141242     SQUARRIORS #1 (MR)     $4.99
MAY140993     STEAM WARS TP     $24.99
OCT141191     STEVEN UNIVERSE #5 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
SEP141586     STICKLEBACK NUMBER OF THE BEAST TP     $26.99
OCT141574     STUMPTOWN V3 #4     $3.99
OCT141570     TERRIBLE LIZARD #2     $3.99
OCT141241     THE GIFTED GN VOL 01     $19.95
AUG141683     THIRD TESTAMENT HC VOL 02 ANGELS FACE     $9.99
OCT141544     TOWN CALLED DRAGON #4     $3.99
OCT141396     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #3 CVR A ANACLETO MAIN     $3.99
SEP141617     WITCH BUSTER TP VOL 07 BOOKS 13 & 14     $17.99
OCT141019     WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #46     $6.99
OCT141537     XXXHOLIC OMNIBUS TP VOL 04     $19.99
JUL140797     ZOMBIE FAIRY TALES UNDEAD THE SEA     $3.99

MAGAZINES
AUG141630     2000 AD PACK OCT 2014     PI
AUG141631     2000 AD WINTER SPECIAL 2014     $7.00
OCT141882     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1435     PI
OCT141885     COMIC SHOP NEWS WINTER 2015 PREVIEW     PI
SEP141917     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #46 THE KILLING JOKE     $20.00
SEP141918     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #47 ROBIN #1 CAR     $20.00
SEP141919     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #71 POWER RING BLACK BISHOP     $16.00
SEP141920     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #72 PARASITE BLACK PAWN     $16.00
SEP141940     DOCTOR WHO ESSENTIAL GUIDE #3 ALIEN WORLDS     $19.99
SEP141941     DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #480     $9.99
SEP141583     JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #354     PI
AUG141944     MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #20 MANDARIN BLACK BISHOP     $16.00
JUL141733     RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #151     $9.95
AUG141969     SCI FI & FANTASY MODELLER VOL 35     $27.99
OCT141895     SCREAM MAGAZINE #27 (MR)     $8.99
OCT141904     STAR WARS INSIDER #154 NEWSSTAND ED     $7.99
OCT141905     STAR WARS INSIDER #154 PX ED     $7.99
OCT141888     ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #1     $4.99

BOOKS
OCT141157     HENSON HC NOVEL SLIPCASE BOX SET (MR)     $59.99
OCT141840     NEW LIFE & NEW CIVILIZATIONS EXPLORING STAR TREK COMICS SC     $16.99
SEP141861     SKETCHBOOK FANE (MR)     $30.00
SEP141862     SKETCHBOOK MALFIN (MR)     $30.00
JUL141690     SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT PORTFOLIO IDYLLIC SHORES HC     $34.95

Terra Formars: Emergency Plan Delta

I read Terra Formars, Vol. 3

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

I Reads You Review: ANGELA: Asgard's Assassin #1

ANGELA: ASGARD'S ASSASIN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITERS: Kieron Gillen; Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Phil Jimenez; Stephanie Hans
INKS: Tom Palmer; Stephanie Hans
COLORS: Romulo Fajardo; Stephanie Hans
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Stephanie Hans
VARIANT COVERS: Phil Jimenez and Dan Green with Frank D'armata; Joe Quesada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

Angela created by Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman

Angela: Asgard's Assassin is a new comic book series launched as part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative.  The series features a character that was not originally a Marvel Comics character.

Angela is a comic book character created by writer Neil Gaiman and artist Todd McFarlane.  She first appeared in Spawn #9 (cover dated: March 1993) as a supporting character and adversary.  Published by Image Comics, Spawn was McFarlane's creator-owned series, and Angela was later the subject of a protracted legal battle between McFarlane and Gaiman.

Gaiman eventually won the rights to the character and transferred those rights to Marvel Comics.  Angela's Marvel debut was in the event miniseries, Age of Ultron (#10; cover dated: June 2013).  Angela's origin and purpose were changed from what they were in Spawn.  In the Marvel Universe, Angela was revealed to be Aldrif, the daughter of Odin (King of Asgard) and his wife, Frigga, which makes her the sister of Thor and Loki.  Once believed to have been murdered, Angela is now “the deadliest warrior in all the Ten Realms.”

Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 finds Angela walking through the desert of Limbo, facing down hordes, and carrying... a baby?!  Plus, her partner, Sera, tells a tale of Angela's past.

Hmmm... Wow...  Over two decades later, Angela belongs to another publisher, yet the new publisher releases an Angela comic book that seems as if it were produced by the old publisher 20 years ago.  By that, I mean pretty art, underwhelming story.

Phil Jimenez and the great inker, Tom Palmer, deliver stellar art, creating a tale that looks like a bizarre melding of J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard.  The gor-to-the-geous colors by Romulo Fajardo make the main story of Angela: Asgard's Assassin seem like a piece straight out of classic Heavy Metal.  However, the story does nothing for me, and I am not even interested in trying to talk about it.

The side story by writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Stephanie Hans is better.  It is a familiar story type, and with its pretty art, it also recalls Marvel's old Epic Magazine.  That said, I can't see myself reading future issues of Angela: Asgard's Assassin.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Phantom Thief Jeanne: Minor Angel, Major Saint

I read Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 4

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

I Reads You Review: SUPERGIRL #36

SUPERGIRL #36
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson
PENCILS: Emanuela Lupacchino
INKS: Ray McCarthy
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
COVER: Emanuela Lupacchino with Dan Brown
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Supergirl based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Crucible” Part 1

DC Comics character, Supergirl, is essentially the female counterpart of Superman.  The most familiar version of the character is Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, who was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino.  She first appeared in Action Comics #252 (cover date May 1959), although there were two earlier versions of the character that appeared in 1949 and in 1958.

I have not read a Supergirl comic book since I read The New 52's Supergirl #1 (“Last Daughter of Krypton”) just over three years ago.  I recently visited an area comic book shop where the owner likes to hand out free comic books to her customers.  That's how I ended up with my first Supergirl comic book in years, besides the Supergirl trade paperback I bought my niece several months ago.

Supergirl #36 (“Crucible” Part 1) opens in the aftermath of Kara's shenanigans with the Red Lanterns (of which I am not familiar).  She is living in New York City and working at Elixir Cafe.  Kara just wants to live on Earth among the regular folks.  Her cuz, Clark Kent a/k/a Superman, makes a surprise appearance, with the intent of giving some big brother-type advice to Kara.  However, he also was involved in some shenanigans (regarding the Doom virus), so maybe he can use some advice, too.  The real lessons for Kara/Supergirl, however, will come from the Crucible Academy, courtesy of three super-powered aggressors.

I probably would have kicked Supergirl #36 to the curb by placing it in a pile of unread comic books, due for removal at a later date.  But I took one quick look inside and was immediately impressed by the eye-candy art from the team of penciller Emanuela Lupacchino, inker Ray McCarthy, and colorist Hi-Fi.  Lupacchino is a skilled hand at compositions, and her figure drawing is strong.  McCarthy's inks give the art an Adam Hughes quality, creating a light-hearted approach to the story that captures Kara as a young woman in flux.  Hi-Fi's candy-painted hues bring the alien environments in the second half of the story to life.

Wow!  Surprised!  Supergirl #36 has tempted me to read more.  Maybe I shouldn't ignore Supergirl.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: MILLENNIUM SNOW Volume 4

MILLENNIUM SNOW, VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Bisco Hatori
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7246-8; paperback (December 2014); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Millennium Snow, the acclaimed shojo manga by Bisco Hatori, concludes with the publication of the series' fourth graphic novel.  Mixing comedy, romantic drama, and a little of the paranormal, the finale resolves the still-born romance between a human and a vampire.

Millennium Snow focuses on 17-year-old Chiyuki Matsuoka.  She was born with heart problems, and her doctors say she will not live to see the next snow.  Toya Kano is an 18-year-old vampire who hates blood.  He also refuses to make the traditional, symbiotic partnership with a human, whose life-giving blood would keep them both alive for a thousand years.  Chiyuki has already told Toya that she likes him, but he hasn't yet agreed to make her his partner.

As Millennium Snow, Vol. 4 (Chapters 14 to 16 to Last Chapter) opens, Chiyuki, Toya, and their friends enter their last year of high school.  Now, Toya faces the prospect of supporting himself for the rest of his long life.  Satsuki Ariyoshi, the werewolf boy, may have a job for Toya at his family's shop, Ariyoshi Goods.

Meanwhile, an important figure from Toya's past returns, as we learn more about Toya's family.  Then, a stranger arrives, and his story may be giving Toya second thoughts about Chiyuki.

The Millennium Snow manga was one of the first VIZ Media titles that I reviewed, and that was a little over seven years ago (!).  This series is the creation of mangaka Bisco Hatori, who also created the hit comedy manga, Ouran High School Host Club.

Apparently, Bisco Hatori put Millennium Snow on hiatus after finishing the episodes that were collected in the second volume of the graphic novel collection.  At some point, she resumed work on the series.  VIZ reprinted Volumes 1 and 2 in a 2-in-1 mini-omnibus edition around the time it also published new material as Millennium Snow Vol. 3.

Millennium Snow Volume 4 is the final volume of the series.  Having read Vol.4, after only reading the first volume seven years ago, I thought that I might be confused by the final volume, especially considering that I had not read the second and third volumes.  I was not.  Millennium Snow is basically simple.  Vampire guy does not want to bite human girl who loves him, although that will give both of them a long, long life.  The romantic dilemmas and tension are built around him playing hard to get and her chasing him.

It works because Hatori depicts conflicts and struggles and feelings and emotions in a way that are universal to shojo manga.  I enjoyed reading it because, even as a fantasy, Millennium Snow is heartfelt and feels genuine.  I might even try to read the entire series at some later date.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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