Thursday, October 8, 2015

Review: QQ SWEEPER Volume 1

QQ SWEEPER, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kyousuke Motomi
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Eric Erbes
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8214-6; paperback (April 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Kyousuke Motomi is a mangaka (creator) known for her two manga series that were published in North America, Dengeki Daisy and Beast Master.  Her latest manga is the supernatural high school drama and romance, QQ Sweeper.

The series focuses on two characters.  First is the tall, dark, and handsome, Kyutaro Horikita, the cleaning expert of Kurokado Private High School.  One day, he finds a maiden sleeping in an old room on campus.  She is the second character, transfer student Fumi Nishioka, and like Kyutaro, she has a talent for cleaning.

Early in QQ Sweeper, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5), Kyutaro discovers Fumi sleeping in the “Old School Building.”  To her, the place is dirty... but alluring and mysterious.  Kyutaro, considered a weirdo by the other students, keeps the building clean, but he is a cleaner both in the physical world and in the spiritual realm.  When fellow student, Junya Sakaguchi, gets dirty and infested, Kyutaro will discover that Fumi may have a surprising talent for getting rid of dirty things.

The QQ Sweeper manga is unusual simply because so much of it focuses on cleaning services and janitorial duties.  Creator Kyousuke Motomi depicts the cleaning as more than just drudgery.  There is a technique to getting it right and to taking a dirty room or object and cleaning it down to the tiny details.

QQ Sweeper Volume 1 introduces quite a bit about the series' magic and its internal mythology, but not so much that the series loses its sense of mystery.  The unknown will be important to this series, as nearly all the main characters are incomplete, especially when it comes to their pasts.  QQ Sweeper is different, especially when compared to Motomi's previous series, Dengeki Daisy, but like this earlier manga, QQ Sweeper is filled with thrills.

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.



Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Review: MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1

MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Rob Williams
PENCILS: Eddy Barrows
INKS: Eber Ferreira
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Dan Panosian
VARIANT COVER: Eric Canete
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“Weapon!”

The Martian Manhunter a.k.a. J'onn J'onzz is a DC Comics superhero.  This sci-fi hero was created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa and first appeared in Detective Comics #225 (cover dated: November 1955).  J'onn, a native of Mars, is also one of the seven original members of the Justice League of America.

Now, with the advent of the “DCYou” publishing event, J'onn J'onzz has a new ongoing comic book series.  Martian Manhunter is written by Rob Williams, drawn by Eddy Barrows (pencils) and Eber Ferreira (inks), colored by Gabe Eltaeb, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Martian Manhunter #1 (“Weapon!”) opens with a prologue wherein a group of children visit a strange man named Mr. Biscuits.  Meanwhile, the Martian Manhunter is trying to save an airliner from crashing, all the while unleashing a psychic call for help.  At the Justice League Watchtower, Superman, Flash, and Cyborg are having a little difficulty believing what they are witnessing, while war zones erupt and terrorists unleash multiple attacks.  An alien invasion begins.

Martian Manhunter #1 is another of those DCYou launches that I avoided reading even though it was in my reading slush pile.  I regret that now, as the second issue has already arrived in comic book shops, and I might not be able to get a copy.  Obviously, I enjoyed reading this first issue, and it could be the start of a tremendously good title.

I might be wrong.  Perhaps, I should wait to read another issue, but it seems to me, after only one reading, that series writer Rob Williams has unleashed something big.  If the rest of this story arc is as good as the opening chapter, it will be the kind of big, event story that should launch something.  You know:  the way Flashpoint launched The New 52.

I love, and I do mean love, the art by the team of Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira.  It is old-fashioned and textured, not relying on the colorist to provide texture, such as “feathering.”  Still, colorist Gabe Eltaeb manages to shine anyway, with a color palette that establishes a dark mood, the sense of a world under siege by things not of this world.

Wow!  I want more Martian Manhunter.

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.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 7, 2015

DC COMICS

AUG150215     ACTION COMICS #45     $3.99
JUL150337     ASTRO CITY PRIVATE LIVES TP     $16.99
AUG150154     BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #1     $3.99
AUG150234     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #9     $3.99
AUG150228     BATMAN BEYOND #5     $2.99
AUG150261     BATMAN ETERNAL TP VOL 03     $39.99
JUL150303     BATMAN THE ROAD TO NO MANS LAND TP VOL 01     $29.99
JUL150293     CONVERGENCE HC     $29.99
JUL150294     CONVERGENCE ZERO HOUR TP BOOK 01     $19.99
JUL150296     CONVERGENCE ZERO HOUR TP BOOK 02     $19.99
JUN150303     CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS DLX ED HC     $49.99
JUL150210     CYBORG #3     $2.99
AUG150236     DETECTIVE COMICS #45     $3.99
AUG150192     GREEN ARROW #45     $2.99
JUL150225     GREEN ARROW ANNUAL #1     $4.99
AUG150248     GREEN LANTERN #45     $3.99
JUL150314     HE MAN THE ETERNITY WAR TP VOL 01     $14.99
AUG150194     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #11     $2.99
AUG150197     LOBO #11     $2.99
AUG150255     LOONEY TUNES #227     $2.99
AUG150199     MIDNIGHTER #5     $2.99
AUG150254     MORTAL KOMBAT X #11 (MR)     $3.99
AUG150202     OMEGA MEN #5     $2.99
JUL150332     SANDMAN OVERTURE #6 COMBO PACK (MR)     $4.99
JUL150321     SECRET SIX TP VOL 03 CATS CRADLE     $19.99
AUG150211     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #15     $3.99
AUG150283     SURVIVORS CLUB #1 (MR)     $3.99
AUG150162     TELOS #1     $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 7, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

AUG150681     1602 WITCH HUNTER ANGELA #4 SWA     $3.99
AUG150692     ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT POINT ONE #1     $5.99
AUG150700     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1     $5.99
AUG150696     AVENGERS #0     $5.99
JUL150834     AVENGERS NO MORE BULLYING TP     $14.99
JUL150835     COLOR YOUR OWN AGE OF ULTRON TP     $9.99
AUG150731     CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #1     $4.99
AUG150849     DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE LADY OF SHADOWS #2 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150798     DARTH VADER #10     $3.99
APR150917     DEADPOOL BY POSEHN AND DUGGAN HC VOL 03     $34.99
AUG150741     DOCTOR STRANGE #1     $4.99
MAY150830     DOCTOR STRANGE TP DONT PAY FERRYMAN     $24.99
AUG150686     GROOT #5     $3.99
JUL150696     INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1     $3.99
JUL150772     JOURNEY STAR WARS FASE #2     $3.99
APR150904     MARVEL LEGACY OF JACK KIRBY SLIPCASE HC     $49.99
AUG150846     MARVEL SUPER HERO CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS TP VOL 01     $7.99
AUG150850     MARVEL SUPER HERO SPECTACULAR #1     $3.99
AUG150853     MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1     $3.99
JUN150814     MAX RIDE FIRST FLIGHT HC     $24.99
AUG150842     MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN AND BUCKINGHAM #3 (MR)     $4.99
JUL150757     OLD MAN LOGAN #5 SWA     $3.99
FEB150838     POWERS #5 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150680     SECRET WARS #6 SWA     $3.99
APR150913     SHIELD COMPLETE COLLECTION OMNIBUS HC ROSS CVR     $99.99
AUG150665     SIEGE #4 SWA     $3.99
AUG150679     SPIDER-ISLAND #5 SWA     $3.99
JUL150764     STAR WARS #10     $3.99
JUL150827     STAR WARS DARTH VADER TP VOL 01 VADER     $19.99
JUL150775     STAR WARS LANDO #5     $3.99
APR150892     STAR WARS MARVEL COVERS HC VOL 01 ROSS CVR     $34.99
APR150895     STAR WARS MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS HC VOL 03     $125.00
MAY150811     STAR WARS TP VOL 01 SKYWALKER STRIKES     $19.99
APR150923     WEREWOLF BY NIGHT OMNIBUS HC     $125.00
AUG150772     WHAT IF INFINITY INHUMANS #1     $3.99
AUG150770     WHAT IF INFINITY THANOS #1     $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 7, 2015

IDW PUBLISHING
AUG150401     ANGRY BIRDS SUPER ANGRY BIRDS #2     $3.99
AUG150393     ATOMIC ROBO & THE RING OF FIRE #2     $3.99
AUG150394     ATOMIC ROBO & THE RING OF FIRE #2 ARTIST ED BLANK SKETCH     $3.99
JUN150485     BEYOND MARS HC     $49.99
AUG150446     BOY-1 #3     $3.99
AUG150396     D4VE2 #2     $3.99
JUL150427     DRIVE #2     $3.99
AUG150381     EDWARD SCISSORHANDS TP VOL 02 WHOLE AGAIN     $19.99
AUG150378     FLY OUTBREAK TP     $19.99
AUG150452     HAUNTED HORROR #19     $3.99
JUL150025     HCF 2015 DONALD DUCKS HALLOWEEN SCREAM #1     PI
AUG150424     MICKEY MOUSE MYSTERIOUS CRYSTAL BALL TP     $12.99
AUG150406     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #21     $3.99
AUG150409     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 08     $19.99
AUG150444     OCTOBER FACTION #9     $3.99
AUG150453     POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #39     $3.99
AUG150385     SHERLOCK HOLMES 7 PER-CENT SOLUTION #3     $3.99
AUG150386     SHERLOCK HOLMES 7 PER-CENT SOLUTION #3 SUBSCRIPTION V     $3.99
AUG150463     SILENT HILL OMNIBUS TP VOL 02     $24.99
AUG150437     STRING DIVERS #3     $3.99
AUG150448     TET #2     $3.99
AUG150337     TMNT COLOR CLASSICS SERIES 3 #10     $3.99
JUL150367     TMNT ONGOING #50 REG CVR A     $7.99
JUL150369     TMNT ONGOING #50 REG CVR B     $7.99
JUL150368     TMNT ONGOING #50 REG CVR C     $7.99
AUG150335     TMNT ONGOING TP VOL 12 VENGEANCE PT 1     $17.99
JUL150476     TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ANIMATED #3     $3.99
JUN150422     TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE #9     $3.99
JUN150358     X-FILES & 30 DAYS OF NIGHT HC     $24.99
AUG150374     X-FILES CLASSICS GN GROUND ZERO     $17.99
AUG150370     X-FILES SEASON 11 #3     $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 7, 2015

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG150044     ADAM.3 #3     $3.99
AUG150035     ANGEL AND FAITH SEASON 10 #19 MAIN CVR     $3.99
AUG150040     BARB WIRE #4     $3.99
JUN150094     BOB POWELLS COMPLETE JET POWERS HC     $49.99
AUG150023     DEAD VENGEANCE #1     $3.99
JUN150090     EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 20     $49.99
JUN150028     EI8HT TP VOL 01     $17.99
JUN150029     GHOST FLEET TP VOL 02 OVER THE TOP     $14.99
MAR150086     GOON ONCE UPON A HARD TIME #4     $3.50
AUG150068     LARA CROFT FROZEN OMEN #1     $3.99
MAY150107     OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 48     $12.99
JUN150031     SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE NECRONOMICON HC     $17.99
AUG150024     THIS DAMNED BAND #3     $3.99
JUL150096     TOMORROWS #3     $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 7, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JUL150584     8HOUSE #4 YORRIS PART ONE (MR)     $2.99
AUG150477     AXCEND #1 CVR A (MR)     $3.50
MAY150482     BITCH PLANET TP VOL 01 EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE (MR)     $9.99
AUG150479     CODENAME BABOUSHKA: CONCLAVE OF DEATH #1 CVR A CHANKHAMMA     $3.99
AUG150480     CODENAME BABOUSHKA: CONCLAVE OF DEATH #1 CVR B LOTAY     $3.99
JUN150523     COPPERHEAD #10     $3.50
AUG150486     DARK CORRIDOR #3 (MR)     $3.99
JUL150603     DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 03 THE SNAKE PIT (MR)     $14.99
AUG150604     DIGITAL ART TUTORIALS ADV DIGITAL COLORING VOL 02     $29.99
AUG150601     DIGITAL ART TUTORIALS BEGINNING INKING CDROM     $29.99
AUG150603     DIGITAL ART TUTORIALS DRAW FACES AND EXPRESSIONS CDROM     $29.99
AUG150487     HUMANS #8 (MR)     $2.99
AUG150488     INJECTION TP VOL 01 (MR)     $9.99
AUG150489     JUPITERS CIRCLE TP VOL 01 (MR)     $9.99
AUG150491     MINIMUM WAGE SO MANY BAD DECISIONS #6 (MR)     $3.99
AUG150492     NAILBITER #16 (MR)     $2.99
JUL150633     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA TP VOL 02 (MR)     $14.99
AUG150476     PAPER GIRLS #1     $2.99
AUG150493     PLUTONA #2 (MR)     $2.99
JUL150637     POSTAL #4 COMICPALOOZA SGN CVR     $20.00
JUL150636     POSTAL #4 COMICPALOOZA UNSIGNED CVR     $10.00
AUG150481     SAINTS #1 (MR)     $2.99
JUN150581     SOUTHERN BASTARDS #11 (MR)     $3.50
AUG150496     STARVE #5 (MR)     $3.50
MAR150603     SURFACE #4 (MR)     $3.50
AUG150497     WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 03     $59.99
AUG158130     WE STAND ON GUARD #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $2.99
AUG150498     WE STAND ON GUARD #4 (MR)     $2.99
JUL150574     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE LG MENS T/S     $24.99
JUL150579     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE LG WOMANS T/S     $24.99
JUL150573     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE MED MENS T/S     $24.99
JUL150578     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE MED WOMANS T/S     $24.99
JUL150572     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE SM MENS T/S     $24.99
JUL150577     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE SM WOMANS T/S     $24.99
JUL150575     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE XL MENS T/S     $24.99
JUL150580     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE XL WOMANS T/S     $24.99
JUL150576     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE XXL MENS T/S     $24.99
JUL150581     WICKED & DIVINE PANTHEON CIRCLE XXL WOMANS T/S     $24.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JUL150684     ASSASSINS CREED SER 4 AF     $14.99
JUL150687     ASSASSINS CREED SER 4 ARNO EAGLE VISION AF     PI
JUL150686     ASSASSINS CREED SER 4 ARNO TODD VER AF     PI
JUL150685     ASSASSINS CREED SER 4 SHAY CORMAC AF     PI
AUG152559     MLB MADISON BUMGARNER WORLD SERIES AF     $22.99