Thursday, August 20, 2015

Review: ULTRAMAN Volume 1

ULTRAMAN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Eiichi Shimizu
ART: Tomohiro Shimoguchi
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8182-8; paperback (August 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
240pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

As a team, Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi created the manga, Kurogane no Rainbareru (Linebarrels of Iron, Akita Shoten), and have produced character designs for video games and action figures.  Their current collaboration is the manga, Ultraman, based on a character that appeared in Japanese sci-fi/fantasy films and television series, beginning in the 1960s.  Ultraman was an alien entity that merged with a human host to create a superhero that fought aliens trying to invade Earth.

Eiichi Shimizu worked on the story, script, and mechanical design for Ultraman (stylized as ULTRAMAN).  Tomohiro Shimoguchi provided character designs and art for this manga that is a sequel to the television series, “Ultraman” (1966).  The manga (Japanese comics) began its serialization in Monthly Hero's in 2011.  VIZ Media will publish the manga in English as a graphic novel series, beginning August 2015.

Ultraman, Vol. 1 (Chapter 1 to 6) opens 20 years after Ultraman (“Giant of Light”) left Earth after defeating the last of the alien invaders.  Defense Minister Shinjiro Hayata and his young son, Shin Hayata, are visiting “The Giant of Light Memorial Museum.”  The elder Hayata does not remember that he had merged with Ultraman even after something shocking happens to his son at the museum.

Twelve years after that fateful museum visit, young Shin is trying to be a normal school boy, trying to get the girls at his school to notice him.  His life, however, is about to change, and the truth is going to come out.  What is the “Ultra Factor,” and who possesses it?

Many years ago, on a comic book creator's message board, I posted that I wondered if there were Japanese superheros that were similar to American superheroes , such as Superman and Spider-Man.  Another board member said there was such a Japanese superhero – Ultraman.  I wasn't buying it, as what little of Ultraman that I had seen just did not look like something from DC Comics or Marvel Comics or even like superheroes from independent comic book publishers.

Years later, VIZ Media recently sent me the opening volume of the new Ultraman manga.  I don't know how close the new is to the original, as I have not experienced original Ultraman.  I can say that Ultraman Volume 1 makes me believe that Ultraman is like an American superhero.  I could not help but think of Iron Man, although neither Shinjiro nor Shin Hayata is like Tony Stark.  This manga does remind me, a little, of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

This first volume is quite an enjoyable read.  The graphical storytelling moves like a superhero comic book.  If I did not know that Ultraman was created in Japan, I would not at all think of it as manga.  That is not a criticism; I simply think that this Ultraman could work as an American comic book.  I look forward to future volumes because Ultraman has the potential to be quite good.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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



Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Review: STARFIRE #1

STARFIRE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
PENCILS: Emanuela Lupacchino
INKS: Ray McCarthy
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVERS: Emanuela Lupacchino with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Starfire created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

“Everything to Everyone”

Koriand'r, who is the female superhero known as Starfire, first appeared in DC Comics Presents #26 (cover date: October 1980), which contained the preview story that introduced The New Teen Titans.  Created by writer Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Starfire is an alien warrior, was a member of the Teen Titans, and is the love interest of Dick Grayson/Robin.

As part of the “DCYou” publishing initiative, there is new comic book featuring the character, and it is entitled, Starfire.  The series is written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, penciled by Emanuela Lupacchino, inked by Ray McCarthy, colored by Hi-Fi, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Starfire #1 (“Everything to Everyone”) opens in Key West, Florida.  Starfire is at the Key West Police Station where she is giving her origin story to Sheriff Stella Gomez.  Although she is busy preparing the locals for an approaching storm, Stella takes time to help Starfire find a place to live.  Hilarity ensues.  Meanwhile, darkness, both natural and otherwise, approaches.

This new Starfire comic book is interesting, but other than finding out about the unseen who or what that appears on the last panel of the last page, I am not sure that I will read another issue.  Starfire is not at all bad, and the art is pretty.  Starfire seems to be in keeping with DC Comics' apparent goal of making “DCYou” be about different types of books to attract new and/or different readers.

Starfire could almost be one of those new, updated Archie Comics titles.  Yep, Starfire now looks like a sex-ified Betty.  Still, I think that readers looking for “girl superheroes” will want to give this a try.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

DC COMICS

JUN150317     ASTRO CITY #26     $3.99
JUN150250     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #7     $3.99
JUN150236     BIZARRO #3     $2.99
JUN150178     BLACK CANARY #3     $2.99
MAY150240     CONSTANTINE TP VOL 04 THE APOCALYPSE ROAD TP     $14.99
JUN150184     DOCTOR FATE #3     $2.99
JUN150237     DOOMED #3     $2.99
MAY150265     FAIREST TP VOL 05 THE CLAMOR FOR GLAMOUR (MR)     $14.99
MAY150238     GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT TP VOL 01 WE DO NOT SLEEP     $14.99
MAY150236     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 06 STORMING THE GATES     $14.99
JUN150268     GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #3     $2.99
JUN150261     HARLEY QUINN & POWER GIRL #3     $3.99
JUN150195     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #8     $2.99
JUN150202     JLA GODS AND MONSTERS #2     $3.99
JUN150172     JUSTICE LEAGUE #43     $3.99
JUN150289     MAD MAGAZINE #535     $5.99
JUN158277     MAD MAX FURY ROAD MAX #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $4.99
JUN150207     MARTIAN MANHUNTER #3     $2.99
MAY150268     NAMES TP (MR)     $16.99
JUN150262     ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #3     $3.99
JUN150223     SECRET SIX #5     $2.99
JUN150225     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #13     $3.99
APR150303     SUPERMAN HC VOL 06 THE MEN OF TOMORROW     $24.99
JUN150232     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #20     $3.99
JUN150275     TEEN TITANS GO #11     $2.99
JUN150226     WONDER WOMAN #43     $3.99
APR150306     WONDER WOMAN BY GEORGE PEREZ OMNIBUS HC     $75.00

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB150302     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY BRYAN HITCH     $79.95
FEB150297     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 BATMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150299     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 CATWOMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150296     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 SUPERMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150298     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 WONDER WOMAN AF     $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

MAY150726     1872 #2 SWA     $3.99
JUN150703     AGE OF ULTRON VS MARVEL ZOMBIES #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150736     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150765     ARMOR WARS #4 SWA     $3.99
MAY150826     AVENGERS WORLD TP VOL 04 BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT     $19.99
MAY150828     CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 05 TOMORROW SOLDIER     $19.99
JUN150756     CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MIGHTY DEFENDERS #2 SWA     $3.99
MAY150822     CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 03 ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS     $12.99
MAY150833     DAREDEVIL EPIC COLLECTION TP WIDOWS KISS     $34.99
MAY150809     GEORGE ROMEROS EMPIRE OF DEAD ACT THREE #4     $3.99
MAY150818     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY BEST STORY EVER TP     $14.99
JUN150779     GUARDIANS OF KNOWHERE #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150802     GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #10     $3.99
JUN150722     HOUSE OF M #1 SWA     $3.99
JUN150729     HOWARD THE HUMAN #1 SWA     $3.99
JUN150782     INFERNO #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150795     KANAN #5     $3.99
JUN150695     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #17 SWA     $3.99
MAR150784     MARVEL FIRSTS 1990S OMNIBUS HC     $125.00
MAR150786     MMW LUKE CAGE HERO FOR HIRE HC VOL 01     $75.00
MAR150785     MS MARVEL HC VOL 01     $34.99
MAY150841     MU ULT SPIDER-MAN WEB WARRIORS DIGEST TP VOL 02     $9.99
FEB150837     POWERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 (MR)     $125.00
MAY150840     ROGUE TP COMPLETE COLLECTION     $34.99
JUN150705     RUNAWAYS #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150714     SECRET WARS JOURNAL #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150699     SECRET WARS SECRET LOVE #1 SWA     $4.99
MAY150799     SILK #6     $3.99
JUN150739     SPIDER-VERSE #4 SWA     $3.99
MAY150780     STAR WARS #8     $3.99
MAR150783     ULTIMATE MARVEL OMNIBUS HC VOL 01     $99.99
MAY150824     UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL TP VOL 01 SQUIRREL POWER     $15.99
MAY150724     WEIRDWORLD #3 SWA     $3.99
MAY150839     X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE TP VOL 01 ALPHA     $34.99
FEB150870     X-MEN AVENGERS ONSLAUGHT OMNIBUS HC     $125.00
JUN150769     X-TINCTION AGENDA #3 SWA     $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

IDW PUBLISHING

JUN150461     DONALD DUCK #4     $3.99
JUN150436     GARBAGE PAIL KIDS GO HOLLYWOOD DLX ED (ONE SHOT)     $4.99
JUN150425     GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #217     $3.99
JUN150389     INFINITE LOOP #5     $3.99
JUN150451     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #33     $3.99
JUN150442     SAMURAI JACK TP VOL 04 WARRIOR KING     $19.99
MAY158379     STAR TREK GREEN LANTERN #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
JUN150370     TMNT AMAZING ADVENTURES #1     $3.99
JUN150372     TMNT MUTANIMALS TP     $17.99
JUN150365     TMNT ONGOING #49     $3.99
JUN150413     TRANSFORMERS WINDBLADE #6     $3.99
MAY150404     X-FILES ARCHIVES TP VOL 01 WHIRLWIND & RUINS (PROSE)     $14.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN150069     BPRD HELL ON EARTH #134     $3.50
JUN150061     BTVS SEASON 10 #18 MAIN MORRIS CVR     $3.99
JUN150011     DARK HORSE PRESENTS 2014 #13     $4.99
JUN150082     DEATH HEAD #2     $3.99
APR150071     EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS AT THE EARTHS CORE HC     $14.99
APR150072     EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS AT THE EARTHS CORE LTD HC     $49.99
APR150023     EMPOWERED TP VOL 09     $17.99
APR150080     GAME OF THRONES PINT GLASS MARTELL SIGIL     $9.99
JUN150052     GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #8     $3.99
MAY150101     MIDNIGHT SOCIETY THE BLACK LAKE #2     $3.99
APR150033     NANJING THE BURNING CITY HC     $24.99
JUN150053     PLANTS VS ZOMBIES ONGOING #3 BULLY FOR YOU     $2.99
MAY150029     RESURRECTIONISTS TP VOL 01 NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCED     $19.99
JUN150063     STRAIN NIGHT ETERNAL #12 (MR)     $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JUN150520     BIRTHRIGHT #10     $2.99
JUN150543     EMPTY ZONE #3 (MR)     $3.50
JUN150544     INVINCIBLE #122     $2.99
JUN150546     ISLAND #2 (MR)     $7.99
MAR150575     MANIFEST DESTINY #16 (MR)     $2.99
JUN150503     MANTLE #4 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150529     ODDLY NORMAL #9 CVR A FRAMPTON     $2.99
JUN150530     ODDLY NORMAL #9 CVR B GOULD     $2.99
JUN150509     OEMNIBUS TP     $24.99
JUN150551     POSTAL #6 CVR A SEJIC     $3.99
JUN150552     POSTAL #6 CVR B GOODHART     $3.99
MAR150504     RAT QUEENS #11 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150553     REVIVAL #32 (MR)     $3.99
APR150552     SAVAGE DRAGON #206 (MR)     $3.99
MAY150546     STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #7 (MR)     $3.50
JUN150559     STRAY BULLETS TP VOL 03 OTHER PEOPLE (MR)     $19.99
JUN150560     TREES #12 (MR)     $2.99
JUN150540     WOLF #2 (MR)     $3.50

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

MAY150637     WALKING DEAD COMIC SERIES 4 PIN CUSHION AF     PI