Seraph of the End: Operation Shinjuku

I read Seraph of the End, Vol. 3

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

Read Grumble: Chapter One; Page 9

Page 9 is here:http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumblenumberone002.html

I Reads You Review: ATTACK ON TITAN Volume 1

ATTACK ON TITAN, VOL. 1

Creators: Hajime Isayama; Sheldon Orzka (Translator), Steve Wands (Lettering)
Publishing Information: Kodansha Comics (@KodanshaUSA); 208 pages, $10.99 (US), $11.99 (CAN)
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-61262-024-4 (ISBN), paperback

Rated: “T” for “Ages 16+”

At some point, I discovered that the popular anime series, “Attack on Titan” (which is broadcast on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim), is based on a manga.  I became curious and wanted to read it, and a 20 percent-off coupon from Barnes and Nobles encouraged me to indulge my curiosity.

Written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama, the Attack on Titan manga began serialization in Japan's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine (published by Kodansha) in September 2009.  It has been collected 15 tankōbon volumes (or graphic novels) as of December 2014.

Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 4) introduces a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls.  These walls are a defense against the Titans, which are bizarre, gigantic humanoid creatures that devour humans for some unknown reason (while ignoring other animals).  As the first chapter (“To You, 2,000 Years From Now) opens, what is left of mankind has hidden in a giant, three-walled city for the past century, trapped inside by their fear of the Titans.

The tallest Titans are less than 50-feet in height.  The outer wall of the last human refuge is 164-feet tall.  However, a 200-foot tall Titan suddenly appears and breaches the wall, which allows smaller Titans to infiltrate the city and cause death and devastation.  Five years later, Eren Yeager, who witnessed his mother being devoured by a Titan during the breach, is a military cadet looking forward to graduating.  Then, he will begin his campaign to eradicate the Titans.

I find Attack on Titan to be intriguing, but weird.  Creator Hajime Isayama makes the man-eating Titans fearsome and mysterious, and his pitiful humans give this manga an almost fairy tale-like sensibility and poignant quality.  There is also a Junji Ito quality to Isayama's art.

However, I am not sure if I will read this series past Attack on Titan Volume 1.  I thoroughly enjoyed the chaotic last 20 pages, which are both chilling and mesmerizing – with a shocking conclusion.  Perhaps this series will call me back.

[This volumes includes a three-page section in which Hajime Isayama answers readers' questions.]

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: ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Rick Remender
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Marte Gracia with Eduardo Navarro
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia
VARIANT COVERS: Paul Pope; Alex Ross; Sara Pichelli with Laura Martin; Kris Anka
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

As part of its “Avenger NOW!” initiative, Marvel Comics is debuting some new titles and relaunching others.  All-New Captain America is a relaunch.  Written by Rick Remender, drawn by Stuart Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks), colored by Marte Gracia (with Eduardo Navarro), and lettered by Joe Caramagna, this Captain America title launches superhero, Sam Wilson a.k.a. The Falcon, as the new-look Captain America.

The Falcon is an African-American superhero created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan that first appeared in Captain America #117 (cover dated: September 1969).  In his new role, the Falcon gets Captain America's shield and a redesigned uniform, as well as a new version of his Falcon wings.  Sam Wilson also gets a partner, Ian Zola, the son Arnim Zola.  Ian is the new Nomad.

All-New Captain America #1 finds Captain America and Nomad, with Redwing (a highly-trained hunting falcon), infiltrating a Hydra base hidden beneath a mountain.  The new Captain America wants to show that he can be the man, but visiting mercenary, Batroc, doesn't thing agree.  Besides, Batroc isn't the only familiar face making a surprise appearance.

I have not read many comic books written by Rick Remender.  This first issue of  All-New Captain America makes me want to read more.  This story features some typical superhero action, but it has a humorous streak, and all the major characters seem to be on equal footing.  Also, the battle depicted here will not be a one-sided affair, and the winner(s) will have to earn it.  The situation is in flux for the new Captain America and that piques my interest.

Before there was All-New Captain America, there was All-New X-Men, which was guided by the art team of Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia.  I loved the art in that flashy new, X-Men comic book, but I came to take it for granted.  Seeing their work here, however, makes me appreciate this art team all over again.  This is one pretty comic book, so I think I'll come back to All-New Captain America to see if this entire creative team can make something special of this new series and this new Captain America.  I think they can.

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 December 24, 2014

DC COMICS

OCT140235     AQUAMAN #37     $2.99
OCT140308     ARKHAM MANOR #3     $2.99
OCT140345     BATMAN 66 #18     $2.99
OCT140297     BATMAN ANNUAL #3     $4.99
AUG140339     BATMAN ARKHAM ORIGINS HC     $22.99
OCT140291     BATMAN ETERNAL #38     $2.99
OCT140391     BODIES #6 (MR)     $3.99
OCT140326     CATWOMAN ANNUAL #2     $4.99
OCT140395     DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #12     $2.99
OCT140233     DEATHSTROKE #3     $2.99
OCT140242     EARTH 2 WORLDS END #12     $2.99
OCT140245     FLASH #37     $2.99
OCT140312     GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #2     $2.99
OCT140303     GRAYSON ANNUAL #1     $4.99
OCT140338     GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #3 (GODHEAD)     $4.99
SEP140306     GREEN LANTERN LIGHTS OUT TP (N52)     $16.99
OCT140319     HARLEY QUINN #13     $2.99
OCT140341     HE MAN THE ETERNITY WAR #1     $2.99
OCT140248     INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #6 (GODHEAD)     $2.99
OCT140351     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #6     $2.99
OCT140231     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #37     $3.99
SEP140307     LARFLEEZE TP VOL 02 THE FACE OF GREED (N52)     $14.99
SEP140346     LUCIFER TP VOL 05 (MR)     $29.99
OCT140258     NEW 52 FUTURES END #34 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
OCT140328     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS ANNUAL #2     $4.99
OCT140335     RED LANTERNS #37 (GODHEAD)     $2.99
OCT140306     ROBIN RISES ALPHA #1     $4.99
OCT140254     SECRET ORIGINS #8     $4.99
OCT140347     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #5     $3.99
SEP140326     SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION OF SUPERHEROES TP VOL 05     $19.99
OCT140336     SINESTRO #8 (GODHEAD)     $2.99
OCT140261     STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES GI ZOMBIE #5     $2.99
OCT140270     SUPERMAN #37     $3.99
OCT140274     SUPERMAN #37 COMBO PACK     $4.99
AUG140336     SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS HC VOL 05 WHAT LIES BENEATH (N52)     $22.99
SEP140312     SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS TP VOL 04 HYBRID (N52)     $16.99
OCT140278     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #14     $3.99
OCT140280     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #14 COMBO PACK     $4.99
AUG140343     TALES OF THE BATMAN LEN WEIN HC     $49.99
SEP140325     TWILIGHT TP     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

AUG140384     ARROW BLACK CANARY AF     $24.95
AUG140383     ARROW OLIVER QUEEN & TOTEM AF     $24.95
APR140317     BATMAN ARKHAM CITY MR FREEZE STATUE     $149.95
JUL140296     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BATMAN BY DICK SPRANG     $79.95
JUL140297     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE JOKER BY DICK SPRANG     $79.95
AUG140377     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS STARFIRE STATUE     $99.95
AUG140380     DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 3 BATGIRL AF     $24.95
AUG140381     DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 3 COMMISSIONER GORDON AF     $24.95
AUG140379     DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 3 ZERO YEAR BATMAN AF     $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 24, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

OCT148170     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR     $3.99
OCT140866     ALL NEW INVADERS #13     $3.99
OCT140799     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #18     $3.99
OCT140893     ALL NEW X-MEN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
OCT140934     AMAZING X-MEN TP VOL 02 WORLD WAR WENDIGO     $17.99
OCT140787     AVENGERS AND X-MEN AXIS #9     $4.99
OCT140805     CAPTAIN AMERICA AND MIGHTY AVENGERS #3 AXIS     $3.99
SEP140919     CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 05 TOMORROW SOLDIER     $24.99
OCT140901     CYCLOPS #8     $3.99
OCT140873     DAREDEVIL #11     $3.99
OCT140879     DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE PRISONER #5     $3.99
OCT140801     DEADPOOL #39 AXIS     $3.99
OCT140842     DEATH OF WOLVERINE LOGAN LEGACY #7     $3.99
OCT140861     HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #3     $3.99
OCT140792     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #9 AXIS     $3.99
OCT140898     MAGNETO #13     $3.99
OCT140883     MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN WEB WARRIORS #2     $2.99
OCT140846     MARVELS AVENGERS #1     $2.99
OCT140922     MMW WARLOCK TP VOL 01     $24.99
OCT140848     NEW AVENGERS #28 TRO     $3.99
OCT140795     NOVA #25 AXIS     $4.99
OCT140935     NOVA TP VOL 04 ORIGINAL SIN     $16.99
OCT140886     SECRET AVENGERS #11     $3.99
OCT140877     SHE-HULK #11     $2.99
OCT148226     SPIDER-WOMAN #1 2ND PTG LAND VAR SV     $3.99
OCT148171     SUPERIOR IRON MAN #1 2ND PTG CHOI VAR AXIS     $3.99
OCT140807     SUPERIOR IRON MAN #3 AXIS     $3.99
OCT148227     THOR #1 3RD PTG DAUTERMAN VAR     $3.99
OCT148172     THOR #2 2ND PTG DAUTERMAN VAR     $3.99
OCT140888     UNCANNY X-MEN #29     $3.99
OCT140926     X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP CHILDREN OF ATOM     $34.99
OCT140941     X-MEN TP VOL 03 ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT     $39.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 24, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING
OCT140557     CORTO MALTESE GN UNDER THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN     $29.99
OCT140450     GARBAGE PAIL KIDS COMIC BOOK PUKETACULAR #1     $3.99
OCT140452     GARBAGE PAIL KIDS COMIC BOOK PUKETACULAR #1 DLX BAGGE ED     $4.99
AUG140447     JOE KUBERT ENEMY ACE ARTIST ED HC     PI
OCT140542     JUDGE DREDD #26     $3.99
OCT140544     JUDGE DREDD ANDERSON PSI DIVISION #4     $3.99
OCT140455     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #26     $3.99
SEP140499     SILENT HILL DOWNPOUR ANNES STORY #4     $3.99
OCT140465     TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS #3     $3.99
OCT140502     TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE TP VOL 01     $19.99
OCT140537     X FILES X-MAS SPECIAL     $7.99