2015 Glyph Award Winners Announced; Dynamite's "Shaft" is Story of the Year

The Glyph Awards recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about Black people.  The 2015 Glyph Awards recognize comics made in 2014.  The winners were announced on Friday, May 15, 2015 at ECBACC in PhIladelphia. This is the 10th year for the Glyph Awards.

Some of the comics nominated can be read at http://peepgamecomix.com/

2015 Glyph Award winners:

STORY OF THE YEAR
• SHAFT; David F. Walker, Writer; Bilquis Evely, Artist

BEST COVER
• OFFSET #1 – THE MAN WHO TRAVELS WITH A PIECE OF SUGARCANE; Tristan Roach

BEST WRITER
• Keef Cross; DAY BLACK

BEST ARTIST
• Nelson Blake 2; ARTIFACTS

BEST MALE CHARACTER
• Bass Reeves; BASS REEVES: TALES OF THE TALENTED TENTH ; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
• Ajala Storm; AJALA A SERIES OF ADVENTURES; Robert Garrett, Writer; N Steven Harris and Walt Msonza Barna, Artists

RISING STAR AWARD
• Alverne Ball and Jason Reeves, Writers; Lee Moyer and Ari Syahrazad, Artists; ONE NATION: OLD DRUIDS

BEST COMIC STRIP OR WEBCOMIC
• KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist

BEST REPRINT PUBLICATION
• TECHWATCH; Chameleon Creations

FAN AWARD FOR BEST WORK
• ONENATION: SAFEHOUSE; Jason Reeves, Writer; Samax Amen and Deon De Lange, Artists

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Itsuwaribito: Ryubi's Cause

I read Itsuwaribito , Vol. 14

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble, and support me on Patreon.

Read Webcomic Grumble: Chapter Two - Page 7

Grumble Chapter Two, Page 7 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbletwopage007.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

I am also on Patreon.

Review: SO CUTE IT HURTS!! Volume 1

SO CUTE IT HURTS!!, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Go Ikeyamada
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Tomo Kimura
LETTERS: Joanna Estep
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7985-6; paperback (June 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Manga creator Go Ikeyamada's debut manga was Get Love!!, which first appeared in the Japanese manga magazine, Shojo Comic, in 2002.  Her current series, So Cute It Hurts!!, is a gender-bending shojo comedy manga about a twin brother and sister who switch identities.  The series recently made its English-language debut under VIZ Media's Shojo Beat imprint.

So Cute it Hurts!!, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces 15-year-old Megumu “Mego” Kobayashi and her twin brother, Mitsuru Kobayashi, the older of the two.  Megumu is a full-on otaku who is also a history nerd.  Mitsuru is a popular and successful high school jock, but he is terrible at history.  The dark-haired Mitsuru concocts the idea that he should put on a blonde wig and dress up as Megumu and attend her school, Tosho High.  Meanwhile, Megumu will wear a dark wig and dress like Mitsuru and take his history exams, thus causing him to get passing grades.

Sounds like a crazy idea, right?  Well, Megumu also thinks so, but is forced to go along with her brother's absurd plan.  Much to her surprise, it works, but what will she do when she finds herself smitten with one of Mitsuru's classmates?

My niece is a big fan of shonen manga like Bleach and One Piece.  Her uncle (me) loves him some shojo manga, especially love stories set in high schools.  As ridiculous as its premise is, the So Cute it Hurts!! manga is an utterly delightful read.

I think what makes So Cute it Hurts!! Volume 1 enjoyable is that it depicts love in full bloom – love that does not take into consideration gender-bending, cross-dressing, or gender.  The heart wants what the heart wants, and the young characters of this story seem willing to look at love and friendship beyond the surface and past the social mores.  So Cute it Hurts!! is a catchy title, but it does not convey this manga's numerous comic and romantic possibilities.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux - support on Patreon.


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

I Reads You Review: SAMURAI JACK #20

SAMURAI JACK #20
IDW PUBLISHING with Cartoon Network – @IDWPublishing and @cartoonnetwork

WRITER: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ARTIST: Andy Suriano
COLORS: Josh Burcham
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER A: Andy Suriano
VARIANT COVER: Andy Suriano
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2015)

Samurai Jack created by Genndy Tartakovsky

“Mako the Scribe”

"Samurai Jack" is an animated series that was originally broadcast on Cartoon Network from 2001 to 2004 for a total of 52 episodes.  This television series tells the story of a legendary samurai, known as “Jack,” who is transported to a dystopian, futuristic Earth ruled by the tyrannical, shape-shifting, demonic wizard, Aku.  Jack wanders this future, trying to find a method by which he can travel back in time to the era in which he belongs, Feudal Japan, where he plans to defeat Aku, another denizen of Japan’s past.

In the Fall of 2013, IDW Publishing brought Samurai Jack back to life as a new five-issue comic book miniseries written by Jim Zub and drawn by Andy Suriano.  [IDW had begun a partnership with Cartoon Network (CN) to produce original comic books based on CN’s animated properties.]

Zub and Suriano's Samurai Jack comic book was not merely an adaptation of the original animated series; that comic book WAS Samurai Jack.  The initial five-issue run was well-received enough that IDW made it an ongoing comic book series.  Now, however, Samurai Jack the comic book is ending with the publication of its twentieth issue.

Samurai Jack #20 (“Mako the Scribe”) opens in an indeterminate future of the future into which Aku transported Jack.  A wandering scribe named “Mako,” searches for the elusive truth about the one called “Jack.”  Mako says of himself, “I inscribe the words and deeds of important historical figures.”  He is having a difficult time finding little more than exaggerations and second-hand tales of his latest historical subject, Jack... until he meets LaMarr.  This is the first person whom Mako has encountered who seems to have actually met Jack.  Now, LaMarr is offering Mako a chance to meet his subject...

The original Star Wars (1977) would have been perfectly fine without a sequel.  The film's ending offered the first big victory of the small and vulnerable Rebel Alliance against the mighty and evil Galactic Empire.  As the credits rolled on the film, the audience could imagine that this battle of good versus evil would continue forever (or at least for a long time) because this battle is an eternal struggle.

When the immortal Aku flung the “foolish samurai warrior” into the future, this master of darkness made the samurai, who would become known as “Jack,” also an immortal.  Thus, Jack's struggle against Aku becomes an eternal one... or something like that.  We can assume that one day Jack will defeat Aku, but good may defeat evil, but it cannot destroy it.

Samurai Jack #20 is merely the end of this comic book iteration of “Samurai Jack.”  Perhaps, the current comic book market cannot support a long-running, ongoing Samurai Jack comic book.  Zub and Suriano proved that they can produce a high-quality comic book that is true to the original “Samurai Jack,” so I cannot imagine that IDW would just let Samurai Jack die as a comic book.  How can they when the comic book is so good?

In this last (not final?) issue, Zub and Suriano offer a beginning that pretends to be an ending.  Samurai Jack will be back.  Until then, dear reader, find the trade paperback collections and search the back issue bins, but read this series... or re-read it like me.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux - support on Patreon.


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 3, 2015

DC COMICS

APR150246     ACTION COMICS #41     $3.99
APR150177     BAT MITE #1     $2.99
APR150258     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #5     $3.99
APR150179     BATMAN BEYOND #1     $2.99
DEC140389     BATMAN NOIR THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS DLX ED HC     $34.99
APR150181     BIZARRO #1     $2.99
APR150227     FLASH SEASON ZERO #9     $2.99
MAR150270     GRAYSON HC VOL 01 AGENTS OF SPYRAL (N52)     $22.99
APR150228     GREEN ARROW #41     $2.99
MAR150279     GREEN ARROW TP VOL 03 THE TRIAL OF OLIVER QUEEN     $16.99
APR150273     GREEN LANTERN #41     $3.99
APR150222     JUSTICE LEAGUE #41 (NOTE PRICE)     $4.99
APR150235     LOBO #7     $2.99
APR150279     LOONEY TUNES #225     $2.99
APR150201     MIDNIGHTER #1     $2.99
APR150277     MORTAL KOMBAT X #7 (MR)     $3.99
APR150203     OMEGA MEN #1     $2.99
MAR150275     SWAMP THING TP VOL 06 THE SUREEN (N52)     $16.99
APR150243     WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
MAR150276     WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 05 HOMEARD BOUND (N52)     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN140317     BATMAN 75TH ANNIVERSARY ACTION FIGURE 4 PACK SET 2     $75.00
DEC140430     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE     $99.95
DEC140439     WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY DAVID FINCH     $79.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 3, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

FEB150821     ALL NEW X-MEN #41     $3.99
MAR150702     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18.1     $3.99
APR150750     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 SWA     $3.99
APR150787     ARMOR WARS #1 SWA     $3.99
MAR150794     AVENGERS MILLENNIUM TP     $17.99
APR150857     DARTH VADER #6     $3.99
APR150803     FUTURE IMPERFECT #1 SWA     $3.99
APR150762     GIANT SIZE LITTLE MARVEL AVX #1 SWA     $3.99
APR150862     GROOT #1     $3.99
APR150868     GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #6     $3.99
APR150869     HOUSE OF HEM TP     $7.99
JAN150885     MARVEL SH SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD BOX SET SLIPCASE HC     $500.00
MAR150800     MARVEL UNIVERSE ANT-MAN DIGEST TP     $9.99
APR150746     MASTER OF KUNG FU #2 SWA     $3.99
APR140755     MMW NOT BRAND ECHH HC VOL 01     $69.99
MAR150682     PRINCESS LEIA #4     $3.99
APR150690     SECRET WARS #3     $3.99
APR150741     SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #2 SWA     $3.99
APR150876     SPIDER-WOMAN #8     $3.99
APR150855     STAR WARS #6     $3.99
DEC140946     STAR WARS MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 DAY CVR     $125.00
MAR150734     SUPERIOR IRON MAN #9     $3.99
FEB150842     THANOS INFINITY RELATIVITY OGN HC     $24.99
APR150890     UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #6     $3.99
MAR150817     VENOM BY REMENDER COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01     $34.99
MAR150777     WOLVERINES #20     $3.99
APR150819     X-TINCTION AGENDA #1 SWA     $3.99
APR150809     YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #1 SWA     $4.99