PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
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Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2015
Labels:
Archie Comics,
Art Book,
Book News,
comics news,
Diamond Distributors,
Dynamite Entertainment,
Glenn Fabry,
Kodansha,
manga news,
Oni Press,
Star Wars,
Valiant Comics,
VIZ Media
Monday, August 24, 2015
Natsume's Book of Friends: Mr. Hakozaki's Study
I read Natsume's Book of Friends , Vol. 18
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin. Follow me on Twitter and at Grumble. Support me on Patreon.
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin. Follow me on Twitter and at Grumble. Support me on Patreon.
Labels:
Comic Book Bin,
Lillian Olsen,
manga,
shojo,
Shojo Beat,
VIZ Media,
yokai,
Yuki Midorikawa
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Book Review: EVERY SECRET THING (Movie Tie-In Edition)
HARPCOLLINS/William Morrow – @HarperCollins; @WmMorrowBks
AUTHOR: Laura Lippman
ISBN: 978-0-06-241140-2; paperback (June 2, 2015)
448pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $18.50 CAN
Every Secret Thing is a 2003 crime novel from bestselling author Laura Lippman (After I'm Gone). The book was adapted into a crime film, also entitled Every Secret Thing, by director Amy J. Berg and writer Nicole Holofcener, which received a limited theatrical release in May. William Morrow, the HarperCollins imprint, released a paperback “movie tie-in” edition of Every Secret Thing with cover art that referenced the movie poster and some of the actors featured in the film.
The novel opens seven years before the main body of the story. It introduces two 11-year-old girls, Alice Manning and Veronica “Ronnie” Fuller. After being banished from a neighborhood birthday party, Alice and Ronnie find a stroller with an infant inside on an unfamiliar Baltimore street. What happens after the girls' discovery is shocking and terrible. There is irreparable devastation to three separate families, and the incident changes lives and careers.
Seven years later, Alice Manning and Ronnie Fuller, now both 18, are released from juvenile facilities a.k.a. “kid prison.” Ronnie begins her life over again, or tries to do so. Alice aimlessly wanders various neighborhoods. When another child disappears, the unanswered questions about the original crime return to haunt the parents, lawyers, and police involved in the disappearance and the investigation that followed. The truth about what happened then and is happening now will be devastating to everyone, but in different ways.
It took me over two months to read Every Secret Thing. It is a well-written novel, engaging and often absorbing. However, Laura Lippman is a queen of the killer-ending. The whodunit and why-they-did-it are never simple and are full of twists and turns. To say that the endings of her books are shocking seems not to tell the whole story. Let's just say that Lippman writes resolutions and conclusions that reward her readers for starting her books.
The reason it took me so long to finish Every Secret Thing is that Lippman pulls no punches. Yeah, I think “pulls no punches” is a phrase that perfectly describes the way Lippman depicts relationships – familial, personal, and professional. Some might call some of these relationships toxic, but they capture the rough edges and dark corners that define relationships as much as love and need do. There were times when I thought about just stopping, putting aside this book and not looking back. Laura Lippman keeps it too real... sometimes, but as a reader, I guess I wouldn't really have it any other way.
My main complaint about the book is that there are simply too many characters, even for a book that runs over 400 pages. Sometimes, this novel feels like an ensemble drama composed entirely of bit players. Even Alice and Ronnie occasionally seem estranged from the narrative. This makes the novel seem disjointed as Lippman introduces and drops characters, re-inserting them in a disconcerting fashion that makes the narrative a bit awkward in places. Still, the spine of the story – the connection of the child kidnappings – is strong and powerful stuff, because Lippman deals in strong and powerful characters, plots, settings, and angles.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
Book Review,
HarperCollins,
Laura Lippman,
Review
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Arata: The Legend - Ameeno's Campaign
I read Arata: The Legend, Vol. 22
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin. Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble. Support me on Patreon.
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin. Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble. Support me on Patreon.
Labels:
Comic Book Bin,
Gary Leach,
JN Productions,
Lance Caselman,
manga,
shonen,
Shonen Sunday,
VIZ Media,
Yuu Watase
Friday, August 21, 2015
Review: HARLEY QUINN AND POWER GIRL #1
HARLEY QUINN AND POWER GIRL #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was first published on Patreon.]
WRITERS: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray
ART: Stephane Roux
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: John J. Hill
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVERS: Stephane Roux
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for “Teen”
Harley Quinn created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm; Power Girl created by Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, and Wally Wood
“Extrastellar Exploitations”
Harley Quinn is a DC Comics character, specifically a villain. However, Harley Quinn originated as a character on the animated television series, "Batman" (also known as Batman: The Animated Series; FOX Network, 1992). Harley was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm and made her first appearance in the episode “Joker’s Favor” (September 11, 1992), as a female sidekick of The Joker and his eventual accomplice. Harley made her first comic book appearance in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), DC Comics’ comic book spin-off of the animated series.
Power Girl (birth name Kara Zor-L) is a DC Comics female superhero. She was created created by Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, and Wally Wood and first appeared in All Star Comics #58 (January/February 1976). Power Girl is a cousin of some sort of Superman.
Harley and Powergirl are now a duo in the new “DCYou” comic book series, Harley Quinn and Power Girl. The series is written by the trio of Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray, drawn by Stephane Roux, colored by Paul Mounts, and lettered by John J. Hill.
Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1 (“Extrastellar Exploitations”) opens in “La Galaxia del Sombrero” on “Hoard Moon.” [See the 2014 Harley Quinn comic book, issues #11-13, apparently.] Power Girl/Kara is suffering from amnesia, and Harley is telling jokes. Both women discover that they can get answers about their predicament from Lord Vartox of Valeron, but he is being held prisoner by world-beater, Oreth Odeox, on the Lust Moon of Lustox.
Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1 has some beautiful art. Stephane Roux is a talent, and the accomplished and famed colorist, Paul Mounts, makes this comic book one of the prettiest you can find on comic book store shelves.
Sadly, the comic book isn't much to read. It is one of the stupidest things that I have read in awhile. I can understand the writers' egos allowing them to believe that this is something for which they should accept a paycheck. However, there should be a level of corporate shame that would have forced DC “Entertainment” to shelve this, but they didn't and have the gall to accept payment for this from customers. Or... maybe Harley Quinn and Power Girl will turn out to be a good series.
C-
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was first published on Patreon.]
WRITERS: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray
ART: Stephane Roux
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: John J. Hill
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVERS: Stephane Roux
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for “Teen”
Harley Quinn created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm; Power Girl created by Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, and Wally Wood
“Extrastellar Exploitations”
Harley Quinn is a DC Comics character, specifically a villain. However, Harley Quinn originated as a character on the animated television series, "Batman" (also known as Batman: The Animated Series; FOX Network, 1992). Harley was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm and made her first appearance in the episode “Joker’s Favor” (September 11, 1992), as a female sidekick of The Joker and his eventual accomplice. Harley made her first comic book appearance in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), DC Comics’ comic book spin-off of the animated series.
Power Girl (birth name Kara Zor-L) is a DC Comics female superhero. She was created created by Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, and Wally Wood and first appeared in All Star Comics #58 (January/February 1976). Power Girl is a cousin of some sort of Superman.
Harley and Powergirl are now a duo in the new “DCYou” comic book series, Harley Quinn and Power Girl. The series is written by the trio of Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray, drawn by Stephane Roux, colored by Paul Mounts, and lettered by John J. Hill.
Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1 (“Extrastellar Exploitations”) opens in “La Galaxia del Sombrero” on “Hoard Moon.” [See the 2014 Harley Quinn comic book, issues #11-13, apparently.] Power Girl/Kara is suffering from amnesia, and Harley is telling jokes. Both women discover that they can get answers about their predicament from Lord Vartox of Valeron, but he is being held prisoner by world-beater, Oreth Odeox, on the Lust Moon of Lustox.
Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1 has some beautiful art. Stephane Roux is a talent, and the accomplished and famed colorist, Paul Mounts, makes this comic book one of the prettiest you can find on comic book store shelves.
Sadly, the comic book isn't much to read. It is one of the stupidest things that I have read in awhile. I can understand the writers' egos allowing them to believe that this is something for which they should accept a paycheck. However, there should be a level of corporate shame that would have forced DC “Entertainment” to shelve this, but they didn't and have the gall to accept payment for this from customers. Or... maybe Harley Quinn and Power Girl will turn out to be a good series.
C-
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
Amanda Conner,
DC Comics,
Jimmy Palmiotti,
Justin Gray,
Paul Mounts,
Review,
Stephane Roux
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.
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.
Labels:
Eiichi Shimizu,
Joe Yamazaki,
manga,
Review,
Stan,
Tomohiro Shimoguchi,
VIZ Media
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.
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.
Labels:
Amanda Conner,
DC Comics,
Emanuela Lupacchino,
Hi-Fi,
Jimmy Palmiotti,
Paul Mounts,
Ray McCarthy,
Review
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