Toriko: Onward to the Gourmet World!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 30: Onward to the Gourmet World

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

Review: GREEN ARROW #41

GREEN ARROW No. 41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Benjamin Percy and Patrick Zircher
SCRIPT: Benjamin Percy
ART: Patrick Zircher
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Patrick Zircher with Gabe Eltaeb
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for Teen

“The Nightbirds” Part 1 of 3

Green Arrow is a DC Comics superhero that was created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp and that first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 (cover date: November 1941).  Green Arrow is secretly billionaire Oliver “Ollie” Queen.  He dresses like Robin Hood, and he was originally an archer who invented trick arrows with various special functions, such as net arrows, explosive arrows, boxing-glove arrows, etc.  Over time, various Green Arrow (GA) writers toned down the character's use of trick arrows and gimmicks.

DC Comics’ line-wide relaunch, “The New 52,” introduced a younger Green Arrow.  Four years later, the new DC Comics line-altering event, “DCYou,” offers a Green Arrow that is both darker and also closer to the character that appears on “Arrow” (2012), the television series (The CW) based on Green Arrow.  DCYou's Green Arrow is co-written by scripter Benjamin Percy and artist Patrick Zircher.  They are assisted by colorist Gabe Eltaeb and letterer Rob Leigh.

Green Arrow #41 (“The Nightbirds” Part 1) opens one night at an amusement park in Seattle, where young couple mysteriously disappears.  Deeply involved in his civilian life, Oliver Queen is in a bit of a funk.  He even finds it difficult to be really interested in a joint venture between Queen Industries and Panopticon, a tech concern.  Then, Green Arrow has a chance encounter with an African-American woman who needs his help.  He discovers that Black men have been disappearing for months and no one outside the poor neighborhood of Pennytown has paid attention.

Since I read The New 52 Green Arrow #1, I had not read a Green Arrow comic book until I read #41.  I am intrigued.  I like this dark, urban vigilante Green Arrow, which resembles the TV show “Arrow” and also Mike Grell's Green Arrow from the ongoing series that began in 1988.  In fact, Percy and Zircher execute this first chapter in a manner that makes me feel that I have to find out what happens next.  I'll let you know what I think after I read the rest of this story line... if I can still find a copies.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: OOKU: The Inner Chambers Volume 11

OOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS, VOL. 11
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Fumi Yoshinaga
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Akemi Wegmüller
LETTERER: Monlisa De Asis
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7979-5; paperback (November 2015); Rated “M” for “Mature”
232pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is an alternate history and romance manga created by Fumi Yoshinaga.  The series presents an alternative version of Japan’s history in which a strange disease, called the Redface Pox, begins to kill young men and boys  in the 1600s.

The male population falls to about one-fourth of the female population, and men eventually become protected as precious “seed bearers.”  Japan becomes a matriarchal society, with women taking on the roles traditionally held by men, including the role of Shogun.  This story focuses on life at Edo Castle and is set inside its Inner Chambers, a sort of harem filled with men who serve the female Shogun.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 11 (Chapters 44 to 47) opens early in the reign of the 11th shogun, Lord Ienari, the first male shogun in 150 years.  Tokugawa Harusada has schemed for many years to make her son, Tokugawa Ienari, shogun, but she is the one who truly holds the reigns of power.  Ienari is merely a “studhorse,” pleasuring the now female-dominated Inner Chambers.  However, Ienari has been reading “The Chronicle of a Dying Day,” and he dreams of a better future for his country.

Meanwhile, after being thrown out of Edo Castle, former Inner Chamber men, Kuroki Ryojun and Ihei, operate an infirmary together.  Kuroki, an assistant to the late Aonuma, who found a way to cure the Redface Pox, experiences a great change in his life.  Now, he must rediscover his former mentor's miracle.

Is it okay if I still continue to admire the Ōoku: The Inner Chambers manga?  I have asked this question before because, for a long time, this manga seemed to focus on something different with each volume.  That annoyed me, and I thought that meant the narrative was problematic.  Instead of giving it a negative review, I found myself enjoying Ōoku.  I had to accept the series for what it was and not for what I thought it should be.  My very reservations seemed to suggest that this was an exceptional comic book.

At times, Ōoku is a character drama, historical fiction, historical drama, alternate-world fantasy (or science fiction), soap opera, backstairs drama, or royal drama – depending upon the volume I read.  Just go with it, Leroy.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers Volume 11 embraces it all.  In the chapters that comprise this volume, creator Fumi Yoshinaga fashions humanity for her characters and then, begins an excavation of their personalities, motivations, psych profiles, and desires.  Why do people do what they do the way they do it?  Who knows?  It seems like a deeply held secret, even to the creator of such complex and winning characters.

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.

Review: JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS: Shattered Empire #1

JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS – SHATTERED EMPIRE No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

WRITER: Greg Rucka
ART: Marco Checchetto
COLORS: Andres Mossa
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Phil Noto
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2015)

Rated T+

Shattered Empire: Part I

The upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, takes place some 30 years after the events depicted in the 1983 film, Return of the Jedi (or Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi).  As The Force Awakens' release date (December 18, 2015) approaches, Lucasfilm is going to fill in the three-decade story gap between Episode VI and Episode VII (The Force Awakens), using its media partners in book publishing and comic books, in this case, fellow Disney subsidiary, Marvel Entertainment, LLC.

Thus, Marvel Comics recently released the first issue of the comic book series Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire.  This new comic book is written by Greg Rucka, drawn by Marco Checchetto, colored by Andres Mossa, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, with cover art provided by Phil Noto.  According to Marvel.com, Shattered Empire will fully be part of the official Star Wars canon and will depict the immediate aftermath of the events of Return of the Jedi.

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire #1 opens during the closing moments of the Battle of Endor.  Rebel pilots are engaging Imperial forces in furious dogfights, as they try to protect the Rebellion's capital ships.  Then, the shield protecting the second Death Star is shut down...

Soon, the rebel forces are celebrating on the Forest Moon of Endor.  Rebel pilot, Shara, just wants to find her husband, Sgt. Kes Dameron, before she can celebrate.  Still, there are still Imperial forces to be dealt with on the Forest Moon.

Honestly, Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire underwhelms me – not that I am going to stop reading it.  Marvel Comics is publishing Star Wars comic books again.  When I was a kid, the arrival of each issue of my subscription to the old Marvel Star Wars comic book series was like a bonus Christmas.

Shattered Empire has potential.  Artist Marco Checchetto has an imaginative sense of page design.  Various story elements in the first five pages seem to leap off the page, as if Checchetto is trying to recreate the feel of Star Wars' famous dogfights and aerial battles.  The coloring by Andres Mossa makes the battle scenes crackle.  It's up to Greg Rucka to hold up his end on the writing.

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 from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2015

DC COMICS

APR150293     ABSOLUTE BATMAN THE COURT OF OWLS HC     $99.99
OCT150194     ACTION COMICS #47     $3.99
SEP150228     ALL STAR SECTION 8 #6     $2.99
AUG150259     BATMAN 66 HC VOL 04     $24.99
SEP150287     BATMAN 66 TP VOL 03     $14.99
OCT150211     BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #9     $2.99
OCT150228     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #11     $3.99
OCT150216     BATMAN BEYOND #7     $2.99
SEP150285     BATMAN VS SUPERMAN TP     $9.99
JUN150302     BOY COMMANDOS BY SIMON AND KIRBY HC VOL 02     $49.99
SEP150207     CYBORG #5     $2.99
OCT150239     DC PRESENTS ROBIN WAR 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR #1     $7.99
SEP150310     DC PRESENTS TITANS HUNT 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR #1     $7.99
AUG150291     DMZ DELUXE EDITION HC BOOK 05 (MR)     $29.99
SEP150294     EARTH 2 WORLDS END TP VOL 02     $24.99
SEP150265     GOTHAM ACADEMY #12     $2.99
SEP150266     GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #11     $2.99
AUG150263     GRAPHIC INK THE DC COMICS ART OF IVAN REIS HC     $39.99
OCT150222     GREEN LANTERN #47     $3.99
OCT150151     HARLEYS LITTLE BLACK BOOK #1     $4.99
SEP150327     IZOMBIE OMNIBUS HC (MR)     $75.00
SEP150301     LEX LUTHOR A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC     $39.99
OCT150181     LOBO #13     $2.99
OCT150234     LOONEY TUNES #228     $2.99
OCT150184     MIDNIGHTER #7     $2.99
SEP150226     PREZ #6     $2.99
OCT150155     ROBIN WAR #1     $4.99
OCT150233     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #17     $3.99
OCT150268     SHERIFF OF BABYLON #1 (MR)     $3.99
OCT150285     SURVIVORS CLUB #3 (MR)     $3.99
SEP150233     TEEN TITANS #14     $2.99
OCT150287     UNFOLLOW #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP150304     WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 06 SECRET HISTORY     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JUN150340     DC COMICS BATGIRL STATUE     $124.95
JUN150350     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS CATWOMAN STATUE     $99.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

SEP150660     ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT AVENGERS #2     $3.99
OCT150761     ALL NEW INHUMANS #1     $4.99
SEP150666     ALL NEW X-MEN #1     $3.99
JUN150815     ALL NEW X-MEN HC VOL 03     $34.99
OCT150751     DAREDEVIL #1     $3.99
SEP150878     DAREDEVIL TP VOL 04 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MATT MURDOCK     $15.99
JUN150818     DEADPOOL BY POSEHN AND DUGGAN HC VOL 04     $34.99
SEP150876     DEADPOOL VS THANOS TP     $16.99
OCT150914     DOCTOR STRANGE #3     $3.99
SEP150809     EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #3     $3.99
OCT150747     GUARDIANS OF INFINITY #1     $4.99
OCT150840     HOWARD THE DUCK #2     $4.99
OCT150734     INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #4     $3.99
SEP150863     MARVEL 1872 TP     $15.99
AUG158485     MARVEL 2016 CALENDARS     PI
OCT150957     MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN AND BUCKINGHAM #5 (MR)     $4.99
OCT150905     NOVA #2     $3.99
OCT150774     RED WOLF #1     $3.99
SEP150873     SPIDER-GWEN TP VOL 00 MOST WANTED     $16.99
SEP150871     SPIDER-VERSE WARZONES TP     $17.99
OCT150779     SPIDEY #1     $3.99
SEP150832     STAR WARS #13 VDWN     $3.99
SEP150870     STAR-LORD AND KITTY PRYDE TP     $15.99
OCT150741     TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1     $4.99
SEP150872     UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL TP VOL 02 SQUIRREL YOU KNOW ITS TRU     $14.99
APR150908     UNCANNY X-MEN PREM HC VOL 06 STORYVILLE     $24.99
OCT150890     VISION #2     $3.99
SEP150879     WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION TP DYING GAME     $34.99
SEP150862     WOLVERINE OLD MAN LOGAN TP VOL 00 WARZONES     $17.99
SEP150865     X-MEN YEARS OF FUTURE PAST TP     $16.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2015

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT150395     ANGRY BIRDS SUPER ANGRY BIRDS #4     $3.99
OCT150422     ATOMIC ROBO & THE RING OF FIRE #4     $3.99
MAY152753     AWESOME KINGDOM BOARD GAME     $29.99
OCT150424     D4VE2 #4     $3.99
OCT150391     DONALD DUCK #8     $3.99
OCT150394     DONALD DUCK DIABOLICAL DUCK AVENGER TP     $12.99
OCT150379     GHOSTBUSTERS GET REAL TP     $17.99
SEP158436     GODZILLA IN HELL #1 3RD PTG     $3.99
SEP158437     GODZILLA IN HELL #2 3RD PTG     $3.99
OCT150448     HAUNTED HORROR #20     $3.99
JUN150405     INCREDIBLE HULK SAL BUSCEMA MARVEL ARTIST SELECT HC #1     PI
OCT150431     INSUFFERABLE #8     $3.99
OCT150413     MAXX MAXXIMIZED #26     $3.99
OCT150333     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #23     $3.99
OCT150335     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER TP VOL 05     $17.99
OCT150415     OCTOBER FACTION #11     $3.99
MAY152755     PIRATES OF THE 7 SEAS BOARD GAME     $59.99
SEP150455     SKYLANDERS SUPERCHARGERS #2     $3.99
OCT150444     TET #4     $3.99
OCT150403     TMNT CASEY AND APRIL TP     $17.99
OCT150404     TMNT COLOR CLASSICS SERIES 3 #12     $3.99
JUL150372     TMNT HC KEVIN EASTMAN COVERS 2011 - 2015     $39.99
AUG150336     TMNT TP BOX SET VOL 01     $89.99
OCT150301     TRANSFORMERS #48     $3.99
SEP150377     TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TP BOX SET     $89.99
JUL150478     TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE TP BOX SET     $89.99
OCT150371     X-FILES SEASON 11 #5     $3.99
AUG150439     ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS #10     $4.99