Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2015

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN150056     CONAN THE AVENGER #17     $3.50
JUN150013     FIGHT CLUB 2 #4 MAIN MACK CVR     $3.99
JUN150054     HALO ESCALATION #21     $3.99
JUN150079     HELLBOY IN HELL #7     $2.99
APR150076     KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE OMNIBUS ED TP BOOK 01     $19.99
JUN150023     MULAN REVELATIONS #3     $3.99
JUN150015     NEW MGMT #1 MAIN KINDT CVR     $3.99
JUN150021     PASTAWAYS #6     $3.99
APR150057     SUNDOWNERS TP VOL 02     $14.99
JUN150022     TOMORROWS #2     $3.99
APR150043     USAGI YOJIMBO SAGA LTD ED HC VOL 04     $79.99
APR150042     USAGI YOJIMBO SAGA TP VOL 04     $24.99
JUN150045     ZODIAC STARFORCE #1     $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JUN150497     COVENANT #3 CVR A LIEFELD (MR)     $2.99
JUN150498     COVENANT #3 CVR B HORAK (MR)     $2.99
APR150574     COWL TP VOL 02 THE GREATER GOOD (MR)     $14.99
APR150531     EAST OF WEST #20     $3.50
FEB150521     FIVE GHOSTS TP VOL 03 MONSTERS & MEN     $14.99
JUN150564     IMAGE GIANT SIZED ARTISTS PROOF ED WALKING DEAD #1 (MR)     $19.99
JUN150545     INVISIBLE REPUBLIC TP VOL 01     $9.99
APR150521     IXTH GENERATION TP VOL 01     $14.99
JUN150569     LOW #9 (MR)     $3.50
JUN150573     RASPUTIN #8 (MR)     $3.50
JUN150574     ROCHE LIMIT CLANDESTINY #4     $3.50
JUN150576     RUMBLE #6 CVR A HARREN (MR)     $3.50
JUN150577     RUMBLE #6 CVR B BERMEJO (MR)     $3.50
JUN150554     RUNLOVEKILL TP VOL 01 (MR)     $9.99
JUN150580     SONS OF THE DEVIL #4 (MR)     $2.99
JUN158622     SONS OF THE DEVIL #4 CVR B MILLER (MR)     $2.99
JUN158623     SONS OF THE DEVIL #4 CVR C OUM (MR)     $2.99
MAY150544     SPAWN #255     $2.99
MAY150545     SPREAD #9 (MR)     $3.50
JUN150583     SUNSTONE OGN VOL 03 (MR)     $14.99
JUN150587     THEYRE NOT LIKE US #7 (MR)     $2.99
APR150678     THIEF OF THIEVES #30 (MR)     $2.99
JUN150588     TITHE TP VOL 01     $14.99
JUN150589     VALHALLA MAD #4     $3.50
JUN150591     WAYWARD TP VOL 02 (MR)     $16.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2015

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
JUL150057     PREVIEWS #324 SEPT 2015 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM     PI
JUL150054     PREVIEWS #324 SEPTEMBER 2015     $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN158138     21ST CENTURY TANK GIRL #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.99
JUN151342     24 BY 7 HC     $25.00
JUN151150     ADVENTURE TIME #43     $3.99
APR151599     ADVENTURES OF BASIL AND MOEBIUS HC VOL 02 SHADOW GAMBIT (MR)     $18.99
JUN151634     AJIN GN VOL 06 DEMI HUMAN     $12.95
JUN151702     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #2 A CVR METCALF (MR)     $3.99
JUN151703     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #2 B CVR SPAY (MR)     $3.99
JUN151704     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #2 C CVR CAFARO (MR)     $3.99
JUN151705     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #2 D CVR ERIC J (MR)     $3.99
JUN151192     ALONE GN VOL 04 RED CAIRNS     $11.95
MAY151506     AQUILA #5     $3.99
JUN151403     ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL GN VOL 05     $10.99
JUN151401     ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 16     $10.99
JUN151402     ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 16 PLAYING CARD DECK SP ED     $19.99
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JUN151129     BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA #15     $3.99
JUN151362     BLACK TIGER #1     $2.99
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JUN151343     CITY OF CROCODILES GN     $22.95
MAY151101     CRIMSON HC VOL 01 (MR)     $34.99
MAY150852     CRYPT OF HORROR #26     $29.95
JUN151504     DANCE IN VAMPIRE BUND OMNIBUS VOL 06 (MR)     $19.99
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JUL151309     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 RAMOS DELGADO GOLD SGN     PI
DEC131143     DF BLACK WIDOW #1 NATHAN EDMONDSON SGN     PI
JUL151324     DF DONALD DUCK #1 HAESER DONALD SKETCH SGN     $34.00
JUN141204     DF NAILBITER #1 SGN WILLIAMSON & HENDERSON     $29.99
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JUN151290     DF STAR WARS #1 DF EXC LAND B&W SILVER SGN CASSADAY     $89.99
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MAR151455     DO-GOODERS HC     $9.99
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JUL151273     E-MAN EARLY YEARS TP     $27.95
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JUN150908     FM PRES BORNHOME #2 CVR A JOHNSON     $3.99
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JUN150911     FM PRES GUNSUITS #3 CVR B ROBERTSON     $3.99
MAY150974     FOUR POINTS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR A     $3.99
MAY150975     FOUR POINTS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR B     $3.99
MAY150976     FOUR POINTS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR C     $3.99
MAY150977     FOUR POINTS #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR D     $3.99
JUN151691     GFT COVEN #2 A CVR LEISTER (MR)     $3.99
JUN151692     GFT COVEN #2 B CVR BRESCINI (MR)     $3.99
JUN151693     GFT COVEN #2 C CVR TYNDALL (MR)     $3.99
JUN151694     GFT COVEN #2 D CVR MALSUNI (MR)     $3.99
MAY151721     GFT OZ REIGN OF WITCH QUEEN #4 A CVR ORTIZ (MR)     $3.99
MAY151722     GFT OZ REIGN OF WITCH QUEEN #4 B CVR TOLIBAO (MR)     $3.99
MAY151723     GFT OZ REIGN OF WITCH QUEEN #4 C CVR GREEN (MR)     $3.99
MAY151724     GFT OZ REIGN OF WITCH QUEEN #4 D CVR BIFULCO (MR)     $3.99
APR151721     GOOD GRIEF MORE PEANUTS TP VOL 03 1952-1956 (TITAN ED)     $6.99
APR151722     GOOD OL CHARLIE BROWN TP VOL 04 1955-1957 (TITAN ED)     $6.99
JUN151137     HACKTIVIST VOL 2 #2     $3.99
JUN150861     HERO CATS TP VOL 02     $11.99
JUN151344     HUNGER HOUSE HC     $25.00
JUN151065     I PLAY THE BAD GUY #6     $3.99
JUN151406     INUYASHIKI GN VOL 01 (MR)     $12.99
MAY151232     JENNIFER BLOOD BORN AGAIN TP     $19.99
JUN151227     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #10 CVR A CASAS (MR)     $3.99
JUN151228     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #10 CVR B MALSUNI (MR)     $3.99
JUN151229     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #10 CVR C LUPACCHINO (MR)     $3.99
JUN151230     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #10 CVR D EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN151193     KENYA GN VOL 04 INTERVENTIONS     $11.95
JUN151060     LADY MECHANIKA #0     $1.00
JUN151407     LETS DANCE A WALTZ GN VOL 03     $10.99
JUN151143     LUMBERJANES #17     $3.99
JUN151409     MARIA THE VIRGIN WITCH EXHIBITION TP (MR)     $10.99
JUN151194     MARQUIS OF ANAON GN VOL 01 ISLE OF BRAC     $11.95
JUN158139     MINIONS #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
JUN151142     MUNCHKIN #8     $3.99
JUN158304     NINJAK #4 2ND PTG     $3.99
JUN151601     NINJAK #6 CVR A SUAYAN (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JUN151602     NINJAK #6 CVR B KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JUN151603     NINJAK #6 CVR C JOHNSON (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JUN158141     ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 01     $9.99
JUN158140     ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 02     $9.99
JUN151181     OUT ON WIRE STORYTELLING SECRETS NEW MASTERS RADIO GN     $17.00
JUN151090     OVER THE GARDEN WALL #1     $3.99
APR151788     PRIEST & BRIGHTS QUANTUM & WOODY TP VOL 01 KLANG     $19.99
JUN150865     PRINCELESS BE YOURSELF #3     $3.99
MAY150864     PUPPET MASTER #5 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN151332     PUSSYCATS #4 (MR)     $3.99
FEB151679     Q2 RTN OF QUANTUM & WOODY DLX HC     $24.99
MAY150916     ROBOCOPPER (ONESHOT)     $3.99
JUN151411     SAY I LOVE YOU GN VOL 09     $10.99
JUN151252     SHERLOCK HOLMES VS HARRY HOUDINI TP     $19.99
JUN151446     SIXTH GUN VALLEY OF DEATH #3     $3.99
JUN151510     SNOWDEN GN     $16.95
JUL151352     SODDYSSEY & OTHER TALES OF SUPERNATURAL LAW TP     $17.95
JUL151275     SOLITARY TP     $17.95
MAY150958     SONIC SUPER DIGEST #13     $4.99
JUN150968     SONIC UNIVERSE #79 STANLEY REG CVR     $3.99
JUN151136     SONS OF ANARCHY #24 (MR)     $3.99
JUN151374     SPACE DUMPLINS GN HC VOL 01     $24.99
JUN151373     SPACE DUMPLINS GN VOL 01     $14.99
JUN151370     STAN LEE CHAKRA THE INVINCIBLE #2     $2.99
JUN151440     STRINGERS #1     $3.99
JUN151375     SUNNY SIDE UP GN     $12.99
JUL151350     SUPERNATURAL LAW TP ZOMBIE WIFE & OTHER TALES     $19.95
JUN151561     SURFACE TENSION #4     $3.99
JUN151215     SWORDS OF SORROW PANTHA JANE PORTER SPECIAL     $3.99
JUN151217     SWORDS OF SORROW SONJA JUNGLE #2 CVR A ANACLETO     $3.99
MAY151192     TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #93 NEON MONSTER CVR (MR)     $19.99
JUL151478     TICK BIG BLUE DESTINY COMP WORKS (NEW PTG) TP     $29.95
JUL151064     USAGI JANE AND THE SKULLBUNNIES GN VOL 01     $25.00
JUL151353     VAMPIRE BRAT & OTHER TALES OF SUPERNATURAL LAW TP     $14.95
MAY151566     WALLACE & GROMIT NEWSPAPER STRIPS HC VOL 04     $16.99
APR151163     WE CAN NEVER GO HOME #4 (MR)     $3.99
JUN151629     X-O MANOWAR TP VOL 09 DEAD HAND     $14.99
JUN151416     YOUR LIE IN APRIL GN VOL 03     $10.99
MAY151510     ZENITH HC PHASE ONE APEX ED     PI
JUN150876     ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #14 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151455     ZOMBILLENIUM HC VOL 03 CONTROL FREAKS     $14.99

MAGAZINES
MAY151504     2000 AD PACK JUL 2015     $26.75
APR152031     ALTER EGO #135     $8.95
MAY151844     BACK ISSUE #83     $8.95
MAY151861     CINEMA RETRO CLASSICS AMERICAN WESTERNS CLINT EASTWOOD     $15.95
APR152033     COMIC BOOK CREATOR #9     $8.95
JUN151776     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1471     PI
JUN151777     COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUG 2015     $19.95
MAY151821     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #64 BATMAN #366 JOKER COPTER     $21.00
MAY151852     DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #489     $9.99
MAR151796     FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #272 HISTORY OF SCI-FI COVER     $9.99
MAY151853     FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #273     $9.99
MAY151867     GIRLS AND CORPSES MAGAZINE SUMMER 2015 (MR)     $8.95
JUN151483     NICKELODEON MAGAZINE #3     $4.99
MAY151857     SCI FI & FANTASY MODELLER VOL 38     $27.99
JUL151927     ULTRA VIOLENT MAGAZINE #12     $5.95

BOOKS
JUN158306     AGATHA H & VOICE OF THE CASTLE GIRL GENIUS NOVEL HC     $24.99
JUL151807     ART OF DAVE SEELEY HC     $50.00
JUN151637     ATTACK ON TITAN HARSH MISTRESS OF CITY PART 1 NOVEL     $10.95
APR151790     DANZIG LYRIC BOOK (MR)     $24.95
JUN151682     DEVIL IS PART TIMER LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02     $14.00
JUL151817     DICK GRAYSON BOY WONDER 75 YEARS ROBIN NIGHTWING BATMAN SC     $39.95
APR151791     DRUKIJA CONTESSA OF BLOOD LIMITED SC (MR)     $24.95
JUN151735     FALCON FIGHT OR FLIGHT YR CHAPTER BOOK     $5.99
MAY151055     GLENN FABRY SKETCHBOOK VOL 03 (MR)     $12.99
JUL151860     JOSS WHEDON BIOGRAPHY SC     $19.95
JUL151837     RAY BRADBURY HALLOWEEN TREE ILLUS HC     $18.99
JUN151684     SPICE AND WOLF NOVEL VOL 15 (MR)     $13.00
JUL151884     STAR WARS SHIPS OF THE GALAXY HC     $11.99
JUN152724     WARHAMMER 40K PYRES OF ARMAGEDDON HC     $28.00

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.

Book Review: EVERY SECRET THING (Movie Tie-In Edition)

EVERY SECRET THING
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.

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.

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.