Kiss of the Rose Princess: True Contract

I read Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 3

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

I Reads You Review: BIZ: The Intense Art of Simon Bisley

BIZ: THE INTENSE ART OF SIMON BISLEY
VEROTIK PUBLISHING, INC.

ART: Simon Bisley
ISBN: 1-885730-73-X; paperback; 1997 (First printing)
72pp, Color and B&W, $24.95

Text pieces by Alan Grant, Fanx Simon, Steven Wardlaw, and S.C. Ringgenberg (forward)

Simon Bisley is a British comic book artist, illustrator, and painter.  His best best known work appeared in the late 1980s and through the 1990s.  Those comics included his work on ABC Warriors and Sláine (for Fleetway), and several comic books featuring the character, Lobo, for DC Comics.  Bisley also won an Eisner Award in 1992 (“Best Artist”) for the graphic novel, Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham (1991).

Originally released in 1997, Biz: The Intense Art of Simon Bisley is an art book collecting paintings and black and white illustrations that Bisley created mostly in the mid-1990s.  In the 90s, Bisley produced comics and illustrations for Verotik Publishing, Inc., a small publishing concern started by rock musician, Glenn Danzig.  Much of the art featured on the 30 plates contained in Biz is art Bisley completed for Danzig and Verotik.

Bisley has acknowledged comic book artists like Richard Corben and Bill Sienkiewicz and painters such as Salvador Dali and Gustav Klimt as influences.  However, the art in Biz reflects the seminal influence on Simon Bisley, the late Frank Frazetta.  Although Frazetta was, for time, a comic book and comic strip artist, he is most famous for his paintings.  Some of Frazetta's most popular paintings were his covers for Lancer Books' series of paperbacks reprinting Robert E. Howard's Conan the Cimmerian (or Barbarian) stories.

However, the work by Frazetta that seems to have had the biggest influence on Bisley are his “Death Dealer” paintings.  Verotik published a few comic books featuring Death Dealer, and Biz reprints several Death Dealer works by Bisley, including a few paintings and black and white illustrations.  His reverence for Frank Frazetta comes through in these magnificent drawings, in which Bisley ably recreates the dark splendor of the original Frazetta “Death Dealer.”

Bisley's paintings of such Verotik characters as Satanika and Jaguar God, reveal how tapped into Glenn Danzig's bizarre world of lusty demons and dark supernatural figures Bisley was back in the 1990s.  In fact, Bisley was, by far, best able to depict Danzig's oeuvre, and not just because Bisley was the most skilled and accomplished Verotik artist.  With pen, ink, or paint, Bisley can envision the weirdness and the darkness of pulp fantasy and comics in ways that are both familiar and radical.

Biz: The Intense Art of Simon Bisley is almost entirely about Bisley's work for Verotik.  However, there are a few paintings featuring characters from other comics creators, including Jim Lee (Helspont), Michael T. Gilbert (Mr. Monster), and Go Nagai (Devil Man), among others.

Fans of Simon Bisley would do well to find a copy of Biz: The Intense Art of Simon Bisley.  I dredged up my copy because I am giving it to a friend, so I decided to look through it again.  I also thought that it would be worthy of a review – even nearly 20 years after it was first published.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: SKIP BEAT Volume 34

SKIP BEAT, VOL. 34
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Yoshiki Nakamura
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Tomo Kimura
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7743-2; paperback (April 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN

Skip Beat! is a shojo manga by Yoshiki Nakamura.  It was first published in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine, Hana to Yume, beginning in February 2002.  VIZ Media has published the series in English

Skip Beat! stars Kyoko Mogami, a sixteen year-old girl who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro “Sho” Fuwa.  She follows him to Tokyo and works hard to support him while he pursues his dream of being a top pop idol.  Sho betrays Kyoko, however, so she decides to get revenge by becoming a bigger star than Sho, who is ranked seventh among the top 20 most popular male celebrities in Japan.

As Skip Beat!, Vol. 34 (Chapters 201 to 206) opens, Kyoko is worried about “White Day,” the day boys and men give something to the girls who gave them something on Valentine's Day.  However, The President of L.M.E., the talent agency that represents her, has called Kyoko for a special meeting.  Before Kyoko can declare her feelings for the actor, Ren Tsuruga, he gives her some time off.

Kyoko heads to the island of Guam, and since fate wants what it wants, so is Ren.  Even as the two assume alternate personalities, their hearts threaten to slip their bonds.

My VIZ Media press rep sent me a copy of the Skip Beat! manga for the first time.  I always thought that Skip Beat! was some kind of sports or music manga; that's how little attention I paid to it.  After some initial feelings of disappointment, I found the premise exciting.  I hope Kyoko gets sweet revenge against the boy who betrayed her.

After reading Skip Beat! Volume 34, I can say that I wasn't particularly impressed with the basic story.  I was, however, impressed by the graphical storytelling – the way the art, lettering, and graphics tell the story.  Yoshiki Nakamura presents a visually striking story using beautiful renderings of characters and a diverse range of deformed figure and facial drawings (from super to tame).  The visual presentation makes the characters pop off the page.  I am interested in how Kyoko has evolved over 200+ chapters, and, even after one volume, I want to see how her story ends.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Read Webcomic Grumble: Chapter One - Page 24

Page 24 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone024.html

NOTE:  Last year, I printed some promotional copies of Grumble: Chapter One through a POD printer.  I will sign and number a copy of this "rare" comic book for $5 post paid, which you can purchase here or http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/p/i-reads-shopping.html

PLUS:  New Johnny Bullet episode.

Review: METEOR PRINCE Volume 2

METEOR PRINCE, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Meca Tanaka
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7909-2; paperback (April 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Meteor Prince is a shojo fantasy romance from mangaka, Meca Tanaka (creator of Pearl Pink).  Originally published in the Japanese manga magazine, LaLa, the series focuses on an unlucky teen girl and the handsome alien prince who is totally in love with her.  VIZ Media published Meteor Prince in North America as a two-graphic novel series, with the second volume just recently being released.

Hako Natsune, the “Queen of Bad Luck,” has yet another experience of bad luck.  The President of the school's Occult Research Club draws a spell circle, hoping a ritual will help rid Hako of her bad luck.  Instead, the spell summons a naked teen boy, who seems to fall from Heaven.  He is Io, an alien prince from the planet, Yupita, and he declares that Hako is destined to be his mate!  Does this mean that Hako's luck has changed?

As Meteor Prince, Vol. 2 (Chapters 6 to 10 to Final Chapter) opens, Io is determined to be a normal boyfriend, but Hako's bad luck is falling on him.  Suddenly, a naked teen girl appears, as if dropped from heaven.  Her name is Tania, and she is from the planet, Ciel.  Tania declares that she is the one destined to be Io's mate, and she won't let Hako stand in her way.

After reading the first volume, I thought that the Meteor Prince manga seemed like a natural comic for me.  As I wrote in my review of that volume, I have loved comedies featuring aliens who come to Earth (and also comedies featuring humans whisked into space).  I was a fan of “My Favorite Martian” (1973-1975), a short-lived, Saturday morning animated series that was a follow-up of the live-action, “My Favorite Martian” (1963-1966).

Still, I was not too crazy about the first volume, but I really like Meteor Prince Volume 2, which turns out to be the final volume of the series.  That's a shame.  The story got stronger the more alien characters creator Meca Tanaka added and the more she showed readers of the wider universe.  Ultimately, Meteor Prince, as a short shojo manga, won't be memorable to many readers (relatively speaking, of course), but judging by the second and final volume, it could have been.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: KANAN: The Last Padawan #1

KANAN: THE LAST PADAWAN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

WRITER: Greg Weisman
ART: Pepe Larraz
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Mark Brooks
VARIANT COVERS: Phil Noto, Kilian Plunkett; Lucasfilm Ltd.; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2015)

Rated T

Book 1, Part 1: The Last Padawan

“Star Wars Rebels” is a recently launched 3D CGI animated television series.  It is produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation and is set in the Star Wars universe, of course.  “Rebels” is set 14 years after the film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), and five years before the events depicted in the original film, Star Wars (1977).  “Rebels” premiered on October 3, 2014 as a 44-minute, television film, entitled Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion on the Disney Channel.  “Rebels” premiered as a TV series on October 13, 2014 on Disney XD.

“Star Wars Rebels” takes place during an era when the Galactic Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and features several new characters.  One of them is the former Jedi, Kanan Jarrus, who has spent years hiding his Force powers and lightsaber.  The fourth title in Marvel Comics' return to publishing Star Wars comic books returns to the time when Kanan was a Jedi Padawan (apprentice).

Entitled Kanan: The Last Padawan, this new series is written by Greg Weisman, a former executive producer of “Star Wars Rebels,” who also wrote several episodes of the series.  Kanan is drawn by Pepe Larraz, colored by David Curiel, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, with covers by Mark Brooks.

Kanan: The Last Padawan #1 opens 15 years before “Star Wars Rebels.”  Jedi Master Depa Billaba and her Padawan, Caleb Dume, are on the planet Kaller.  Master Billaba leads a contingent of the Grand Army of the Republic against Separatist droids.  The Jedi and the clone troops hope to chase the droids and their leader, General Kleeve, from the planet.  Don't expect the Kallerans to be grateful.  Meanwhile, there is darkness on the horizon.

First, I have to say, “Wow, who is Pepe Larraz?”  What a fantastic artist.  He reminds me of the art team of Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger.  With colorist David Curiel, Larraz captures the mercurial nature of Master Billaba and the wild and inquisitive nature of Caleb Dume.  Larraz's compositions capture the boundless potential of the young Padawan.  I also need to at least mention how good the cover art by Mark Brooks is.

As for the story, I found myself surprisingly intrigued.  I have not read many comic books written by Greg Weisman, but what I have read I've liked.  He makes the relationship between Master and Padawan seem genuine, balancing authority and obedience with camaraderie and patience.  I expected Kanan: The Last Padawan to be the least of the new Star Wars comic books, but Weisman is writing an intriguing story that demands to be read.

I can't wait for the next issue of Kanan: The Last Padawan.  Marvel Comics has delivered another winning Star Wars comic book.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 8, 2015

DC COMICS

FEB150241     ARROW SEASON 2.5 #7     $2.99
FEB150276     ASTRO CITY #22     $3.99
JAN150399     ASTRO CITY FAMILY ALBUM TP NEW ED     $16.99
FEB150236     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #2     $3.99
FEB150280     COFFIN HILL #17 (MR)     $2.99
FEB150137     CONVERGENCE #1     $4.99
FEB150154     CONVERGENCE ATOM #1     $3.99
FEB150156     CONVERGENCE BATGIRL #1     $3.99
FEB150158     CONVERGENCE BATMAN & ROBIN #1     $3.99
FEB150160     CONVERGENCE HARLEY QUINN #1     $3.99
FEB150162     CONVERGENCE JUSTICE LEAGUE #1     $3.99
FEB150164     CONVERGENCE NIGHTWING ORACLE #1     $3.99
FEB150166     CONVERGENCE QUESTION #1     $3.99
FEB150168     CONVERGENCE SPEED FORCE #1     $3.99
FEB150170     CONVERGENCE SUPERMAN #1     $3.99
FEB150172     CONVERGENCE TITANS #1     $3.99
JAN150379     DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR TP VOL 01 ASSASSINS     $19.99
FEB150279     FABLES THE WOLF AMONG US #4 (MR)     $3.99
DEC140380     HARLEY QUINN HC VOL 02 POWER OUTAGE (N52)     $24.99
JAN150369     HARLEY QUINN TP VOL 01 HOT IN THE CITY (N52)     $16.99
JAN158262     MORTAL KOMBAT X #1 3RD PTG (MR)     $3.99
FEB150246     MORTAL KOMBAT X #5 (MR)     $3.99
JAN150383     MORTAL KOMBAT X TP VOL 01 (MR)     $14.99
NOV140312     ORION BY WALTER SIMONSON OMNIBUS HC     $75.00
FEB150270     SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #56     $2.99
DEC140392     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 01     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
OCT140410     ARROW STATUE     $124.95
OCT140417     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY DAVE JOHNSON     $79.95
OCT140413     FLASH ACTION FIGURE     $24.95
NOV140357     SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL STATUE BY SEAN CHEEKS GALLOWAY     $79.95