Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 14, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

AUG140690    A VOICE IN THE DARK GET YOUR GUN #2 CVR A TAYLOR (MR)    $3.99
AUG140691    A VOICE IN THE DARK GET YOUR GUN #2 CVR B MOORE (MR)    $3.99
NOV140644    COPPERHEAD #5    $3.50
NOV140653    FUSE #9 (MR)    $3.50
NOV140654    GHOSTED #16 (MR)    $2.99
NOV140576    HENSHIN OGN    $19.99
JUL140552    JUPITERS LEGACY #5 CVR A QUITELY (MR)    $4.99
JUL140553    JUPITERS LEGACY #5 CVR B HITCH (MR)    $4.99
JUL140554    JUPITERS LEGACY #5 CVR C FEGREDO (MR)    $4.99
OCT140747    LAZARUS #14 (MR)    $3.50
OCT140631    MANIFEST DESTINY TP VOL 02    $14.99
NOV140672    RAT QUEENS SPECIAL BRAGA #1 CVR A FOWLER (MR)    $3.50
NOV140673    RAT QUEENS SPECIAL BRAGA #1 CVR B UPCHURCH (MR)    $3.50
OCT140763    SAVAGE DRAGON #201    $3.99
NOV140681    SHUTTER #8 CVR A GIENI & DEL DUCA (MR)    $3.50
NOV140682    SHUTTER #8 CVR B CAMPBELL (MR)    $3.50
OCT140658    STRAY BULLETS TP VOL 06 KILLERS (MR)    $19.99
OCT140767    SUPERANNUATED MAN #5 (MR)    $3.99
NOV140689    SUPREME BLUE ROSE #6 (MR)    $2.99
APR140609    TEN GRAND #12 (MR)    $2.99
NOV140696    WALKING DEAD #136 (MR)    $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS
OCT142314    TMP NBA SERIES 25 KEVIN DURANT AF CS    PI
OCT142312    TMP NBA SERIES 25 PAUL GEORGE AF CS    PI
AUG140701    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 ABRAHAM FORD AF CS    PI
AUG140704    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 BUNGEE WALKER AF CS    PI
AUG140703    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 CAROL PELETIER AF CS    PI
AUG140705    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 GOVERNOR W/COAT AF CS    PI
AUG140702    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 HERSHEL GREENE AF CS    PI
AUG140706    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 MICHONNE AF CS    PI
AUG140700    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 RICK GRIMES AF CS    PI
AUG140707    WALKING DEAD TV SER 6 RV WALKER AF CS    PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 14, 2015

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV141737    07 GHOST GN VOL 14    $9.99
NOV141655    13 COINS #1 NYCC EXC (MR)    $3.99
NOV141125    ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT #1    $3.99
NOV141126    ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT #1 SUBSCRIPTION AMANN V    $3.99
NOV141277    ALICE COOPER #5    $3.99
OCT141624    ALICE I/T COUNTRY CLOVER LIZARD AIDE GN (MR)    $13.99
OCT141208    AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL #1 SDCC EXC CVR    $9.99
AUG141412    APPLE AND HONEY GN ROSE COLORED LIFE (MR)    $12.95
NOV141291    BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TP VOL 02 ADAMA GAMBIT    $24.99
OCT141668    BEWARE TP VOL 01 CITIZEN SCIENCE    $14.99
OCT141168    BOOM BOX 2014 MIX TAPE #1    $9.99
NOV141146    BRAVEST WARRIORS #28 MAIN CVRS    $3.99
NOV141148    BRAVEST WARRIORS TP VOL 04    $14.99
NOV141284    BSG DEATH OF APOLLO #2 CVR A MAYHEW MAIN    $3.99
NOV141535    CALCULUS CAT TP (KNOCKABOUT) (MR)    $17.99
OCT148462    CAPTURE CREATURES #1 (2ND PTG)    $3.99
NOV141739    CASE CLOSED GN VOL 53    $9.99
NOV141045    CROSSED BADLANDS #50 PRINCESS CVR (MR)    $5.99
NOV141004    CROSSED HC VOL 11 (MR)    $27.99
OCT141056    CROSSED PLUS 100 #1 DLX COLL BOX SET CVR (MR)    $99.99
NOV141003    CROSSED TP VOL 11 (MR)    $19.99
AUG141049    DAMSELS IN EXCESS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR A    $3.99
AUG141050    DAMSELS IN EXCESS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR B    $3.99
NOV141701    DEATH DEFYING DR MIRAGE #5 CVR A WADA (VF)    $3.99
NOV141079    DEEP STATE #3    $3.99
FEB141246    DF DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE #1 BONUS PKG    $34.99
SEP141402    DF DEATH OF WOLVERINE LOGAN LEGACY #2 SEELEY SGN    $29.99
JUL141431    DOCTOR WHO 10TH #6 REG EDWARDS    $3.99
JUL141432    DOCTOR WHO 10TH #6 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO    $3.99
AUG141411    DOES THE FLOWER BLOSSOM GN VOL 01    $12.95
NOV141305    DOODLE JUMP #5 CVR A UY MAIN    $3.99
NOV141646    DRAGONS RIDERS OF BERK GN VOL 03    $6.99
SEP141499    DUNGEON EARLY YEARS GN SET    $27.99
OCT141322    EVIL ERNIE #3 CVR A SEELEY MAIN    $3.99
OCT141657    EVIL INC ANNUAL REPORT TP VOL 03    $15.00
OCT141658    EVIL INC ANNUAL REPORT TP VOL 04    $19.95
NOV141263    EX CON #5 (MR)    $2.99
NOV141114    FRAGGLE ROCK JOURNEY EVERSPRING #4    $3.99
OCT141596    GARFIELD SHOW HC VOL 04 LITTLE TROUBLE BIG CHINA    $12.99
NOV141774    GFT CINDERELLA #3 A CVR ORTIZ & DI NAPOLI (AOFD) (MR)    $3.99
NOV141775    GFT CINDERELLA #3 B CVR LAISO (AOFD) (MR)    $3.99
NOV141776    GFT CINDERELLA #3 C CVR KROME & RICH (AOFD) (MR)    $3.99
NOV141777    GFT CINDERELLA #3 D CVR QUALANO & NOCERA (AOFD) (MR)    $3.99
NOV141778    GFT TALES FROM OZ #6 ZAMORA A CVR LASHLEY & NUNES    $3.99
NOV141779    GFT TALES FROM OZ #6 ZAMORA B CVR MYCHAELS & CAMPBELL    $3.99
NOV141780    GFT TALES FROM OZ #6 ZAMORA C CVR LUIS & MOS    $3.99
NOV141764    GFT WONDERLAND #31 A CVR TOLIBAO & NUNES (MR)    $3.99
NOV141765    GFT WONDERLAND #31 B CVR LEISTER & ELLERY (MR)    $3.99
NOV141766    GFT WONDERLAND #31 C CVR EL TABANAS (MR)    $3.99
OCT141627    GIRLS UND PANZER GN VOL 03    $12.99
SEP148373    GODKILLER WALK AMONG US #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
SEP140987    GOLD DIGGER #217    $3.99
AUG141410    HENTAI PRINCE AND THE STONY CAT GN VOL 03    $12.95
NOV141096    HEXED #6    $3.99
OCT141386    HOLMES VS HOUDINI #3 CVR A CAMPBELL MAIN    $3.99
OCT141018    JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #9    $4.99
NOV141057    LETS DANCE SNOOPY 65 YEARS OF PEANUTS TP    $16.00
NOV141322    LONE RANGER VINDICATED #3    $3.99
NOV141550    LUCIFERS SWORD GN    $22.99
OCT140949    MEN OF MYSTERY #95    $29.95
NOV141324    MERCY THOMPSON #4    $3.99
NOV141445    MICHAEL JORDAN HC BULL ON PARADE    $24.99
AUG141413    MURMUR OF THE HEART GN    $12.95
NOV141709    MY NEIGHBOR SEKI GN VOL 01    $10.95
SEP141723    NEON GENESIS EVANGELION GN VOL 14    $9.99
NOV141490    PARALLEL MAN #4    $3.99
SEP141233    PLUME V2 #2    $3.99
AUG141626    PRE CODE CLASSIC SPACE DETECTIVE BOOKSHOP ED VOL 01    $47.99
SEP141578    PRE CODE CLASSIC SPACE DETECTIVE SLIPCASE ED VOL 01    $64.99
OCT141418    PURGATORI #4 RARE CHIN VIRGIN ART ED    $50.00
NOV141702    Q2 RTN QUANTUM & WOODY #4 CVR A BRIGHT    $3.99
OCT140947    RACHEL RISING TP VOL 05 NIGHT COMETH    $16.99
NOV141688    RAI #6 CVR A CRAIN    $3.99
NOV141689    RAI #6 CVR B NORD    $3.99
NOV141690    RAI #6 CVR C SEPULVEDA    $3.99
NOV141738    RANMA 1/2 2IN1 TP VOL 06    $14.99
NOV141360    RED SONJA VULTURES CIRCLE #1 RARE GEOVANI VIRGIN    $50.00
NOV141614    REDCOATS-ISH JEFF MARTIN WAR OF 1812 GN    $14.99
NOV141135    REGULAR SHOW #19    $3.99
AUG141629    ROY THOMAS PRESENTS SHEENA QUEEN JUNGLE BOOKSHOP ED VOL 03 (    $47.99
SEP141581    ROY THOMAS PRESENTS SHEENA QUEEN JUNGLE SLIPCASE ED VOL 03 (    $64.99
SEP141429    SAM ZABEL AND THE MAGIC PEN HC    $29.99
OCT141604    SAN HANNIBAL #5    $2.99
NOV141540    SEVEN DEADLY SINS GN VOL 06    $10.99
NOV141361    SHAFT #2 RARE COWAN VIRGIN ART ED (MR)    $50.00
NOV141066    SPONGEBOB COMICS #40    $2.99
NOV141141    STEVEN UNIVERSE #6 MAIN CVRS    $3.99
OCT141630    STRIKE WITCHES ONE WINGED WITCHES GN VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
NOV141562    STUMPTOWN V3 #5    $3.99
NOV141084    SUICIDE RISK #21    $3.99
SEP141234    TALES OF MR RHEE KARMAGEDDON #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV141118    TEEN DOG #5    $3.99
NOV141561    TERRIBLE LIZARD #3    $3.99
NOV141097    THOMAS ALSOP #8    $3.99
SEP141348    TWILIGHT ZONE #11    $3.99
NOV141046    UBER #17 HEROINES CVR (MR)    $9.99
NOV141240    VAMPIRELLA #100 CVR A JUSKO MAIN    $7.99
AUG141744    VEROTIK WORLD #4 WEIRD VOODOO (MR)    $4.95
NOV141083    WILDS END #5    $3.99
SEP141547    WWE SUPERSTARS ONGOING #11    $3.99

MAGAZINES
OCT141615    2000 AD #1911    $5.35
OCT141616    2000 AD PROG 2015    $10.00
NOV141877    COMIC SHOP NEWS #1439    PI
SEP148375    COMICS REVUE PRESENTS DEC 2014    $19.95
SEP141942    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #481    $11.99
OCT141890    DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #39    $11.99
OCT141875    HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #34    $7.95
OCT141893    HORRORHOUND 2014 FALL ANNUAL SPECIAL    $5.00
OCT141617    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #355    $12.40
NOV141873    JUXTAPOZ #169    $6.99
NOV141885    MONSTER BASH #23    $8.99
NOV141899    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #52 NEWSSTAND ED    $9.99
NOV141900    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #52 PX ED    $9.99
NOV141895    WALKING DEAD MAGAZINE #10 NYCC EXCLUSIVE COVER (MR)    $9.99

BOOKS
NOV141813    CONSIDERING WATCHMEN SC    $26.95
SEP141451    GOLD MEDAL RABBIT HC    $9.99
NOV141854    SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 91 RED MENACE & BLACK CIRCLE    $14.95
NOV141819    WONDER WOMAN BONDAGE FEMINISM IN COMICS 1941-48 SC    $26.95

Magi: Maharagan

I read Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 9

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

I Reads You Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #1

CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Al Ewing
ART: Luke Ross
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Luke Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Ryan Benjamin; Ulises Farinas with Ryan Hill; Skottie Young; Mike Grell with Chris Sotomayor
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; The Avengers created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

As part of its “Avenger NOW!” initiative, Marvel Comics is debuting some new titles and relaunching others.  Captain America & The Mighty Avengers is a re-launch of the recent The Mighty Avengers, and it arrived at the same time as All-New Captain America.  Written by Al Ewing (who wrote the previous Mighty Avengers series), drawn by Luke Ross, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg, and lettered by Cory Petit, this series finds the new-look Captain America (Sam Wilson a.k.a. The Falcon) as the leader of The Mighty Avengers.

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #1 (“We Take Care Of Our Own”) opens with Captain America in action, and he ain't playin' at all, girl.  Meanwhile, the Amazing Spider-Man is trying to make up with the Mighty Avengers for the actions of the Superior Spider-Man, but is Luke Cage buyin' Amazing's story.

I read the first issue of The Mighty Avengers #1 sometime ago, and was not interested enough to read past the first issue.  It was not a bad comic book, but I simply could not find a reason to keep reading, beyond mild curiosity.  And comic books are too expensive, or at least they are too expensive for a “mild curiosity” purchase.

Now, Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #1 opens in the aftermath of Avengers & X-Men: Axis, which saw some personality changes among the super-powered set.  So some of our favorite superheroes, particularly The Avengers, are acting in strange ways or sport darker persona.  The good thing about this new title is that “dark” and “menacing” do not result in a “grim and gritty” comic book.  Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #1 is a fun read.  Heck, I might read more... because fun can make sticker shock go away.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Review: ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM Volume 1

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Yusei Matsui
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7607-7; paperback (December 2014); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Assassination Classroom is a shonen manga that made its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan in 2012.  The series is created by Yusei Matsui, who was an assistant to manga artist Yoshio Sawai, the creator of such popular manga as Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and the long-running JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

Assassination Classroom is a humor and sci-fi manga about a classroom full of misfits who take on their teacher who has bizarre powers and super strength.  The teacher, whom the students name “Koro Sensei,” is the alien octopus that destroyed 70% of the moon.  He becomes a teacher at Kunugigaoka Junior High, where he teaches the outcasts of Class 3-E and he promises to destroy the Earth after they graduate.  Now, it's up to these students to kill their teacher to save the world.  They are the “Assassination Classroom.”

Assassination Classroom, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 7; entitled Time for Assassination) finds the students of the Assassination Classroom ready to pop a cap to save the world.  Besides saving the Earth, the other incentive is a 10 million dollar/yen reward, offered by Tadaomi Karasuma of the Ministry of Defense.  It's up to Karasuma to train these students to kill... even if he has to become their new P.E. teacher.  Plus, a juvenile delinquent skilled in battle tactics returns to school.

The Assassination Classroom manga is weird, with its mixture of comedy and menace.  It can be disconcerting to go from poignant teacher-student relationship to classroom violence in the space of a few pages or even a few panels.  At least, it would really be disconcerting if Assassination Classroom were not a shonen manga – a genre or class of manga where comedy and comic violence meld in imaginative and even volatile ways.

I like the science fiction and fantasy sub-genre that brings aliens, humans, and schools together.  I am still a fan of the 1980s animated series, "Galaxy High School," and I have even sampled some of the manga that influenced it, Urusei Yatsura (or Lum).  Assassination Classroom Volume 1 makes me curious to see where this goes.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Read Grumble: Chapter One - Page 11

Page 11 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone011.html

2014 Diamond Gem Awards Announced - Image Comics Wins Best Publisher Award

Diamond Announces 2014 Gem Awards as Voted by Comic Book Specialty Retailers

(BALTIMORE, MD) – (January 8, 2015)- Diamond Comic Distributors proudly announces the winners of the 2014 Diamond Gem Awards, selected by comic book specialty retailers and recognized within the comic book industry as the pinnacle of sales achievement for comic book artists, writers, publishers, and industry executives who work in one of America's most unique art forms.

Image Comics was voted by retailers as Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Over 4% Market Share) in 2014. Image also took home the Gem Award for Best New Comic Book Series for Outcast by Kirkman and Azaceta.

DC Entertainment took home the most Gem Awards—seven—including Backlist Publisher of the Year and Best Original Graphic Novel of the Year for Batman: Earth One, among others. Marvel Comics earned five Gem Awards including Top Dollar Comic (Amazing Spider-Man #1) and Comic Book of the Year (Under $3.00) (Ms. Marvel #1), among others. Dark Horse was recognized with three Gems, including 2014's Licensed Comic of the Year Serenity: Leaves on the Wind and Best Anthology, Dark Horse Presents. IDW Publishing took top honors for Best All Ages Series for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Gem Awards were also presented to BOOM! Studios (Comic Book Publisher of the Year, Under 4% Market Share); :01 First Second Books for Andre the Giant: Life & Legend GN (Best Indie Graphic Novel of the Year); VIZ Media for Manga Publisher of the Year, and many others.

"We established the Gem Awards to give retailers an opportunity to recognize the suppliers, titles, and products that have been instrumental in helping their businesses grow over the past year," said Diamond President & CEO Steve Geppi. "Our suppliers work diligently to support retailers and the entire industry with top-quality titles and products, and we thank all of the retailers who took time from their busy schedules to vote and acknowledge those efforts."

Nominees for the Diamond Gem Awards were chosen by a panel of Diamond product specialists based on their overall impact on the industry, while comics and related merchandise were chosen on the merits of their sales performance and quality from 2014. Winners were then selected by members of the most critical segment that serves the comic book-buying public — comic book specialty retailers across the United States and worldwide.

2014 Diamond Gem Award Suppliers of the Year 

2014 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4%:  Image Comics

2014 Comic Book Publisher of the year Under 4%: BOOM! Studios

2014 Backlist Publisher of the year: DC Entertainment

2014 Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year: Marvel Comics

2014 Manga Publisher of the Year: Viz Media

2014 Game Manufacturer of the Year: Wizards of the Coast

2014 Toy Manufacturer of the Year: Funko

2014 Diamond Gem Award Products of the Year 

2014 Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00: Ms. Marvel #1, Marvel Comics

2014 Comic Book of the Year Over $3.00: Thor #1, Marvel Comics

2014 Best New Comic Book Series: Outcast by Kirkman and Azaceta, Image Comics

2014 Top Dollar Comic of the Year: Amazing Spider-Man #1, Marvel Comics

2014 Best All-Ages Comics: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, IDW Publishing

2014 Licensed Comic Book of the Year: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1, Dark Horse Comics

2014 Licensed TP/HC of the Year: Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search Library Ed. HC, Dark Horse Comics

2014 Original GN of the Year: Batman: Earth One TP, DC Comics from DC Entertainment

2014 Reprint TP/HC of the Year: Batman: Death of the Family Book & Joker Mask Set, DC Comics

2014 Indie GN of the Year: Andre the Giant: Life & Legend GN :01 First Second Books

2014 Manga TP of the Year: Attack on Titan: Before the Fall GN Vol. 01, Kodansha Comics

2014 Anthology of the Year: Dark Horse Presents 2014 #1, Dark Horse Comics

2014 Magazine of the Year: MAD Magazine from DC Entertainment

2014 Trade Book of the Year: The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Vol. 44, Gemstone Publishing

2014 Best Free Comic Book Day Book: FCBD 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Comics

2014 Game Product of the Year: Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men Starter Set , WizKids/NECA

2014 Toy Product of the Year: DC Comics Super Villains Harley Quinn AF, DC Collectibles from DC Entertainment

2014 Toy Line of the Year: Batman Animated, DC Collectibles from DC Entertainment

2014 Collectable Statue of the Year: Batman Black & White: Harley Quinn 2nd Ed. Statue, DC Collectibles from DC Entertainment

*****

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