Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 23, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

OCT150553     CHEW #53 (MR)     $3.50
OCT150529     COVENANT #5 CVR A LIEFELD     $3.99
OCT150530     COVENANT #5 CVR B HORAK     $3.99
OCT150523     DEADLY CLASS #17 (MR)     $3.99
SEP150590     INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #8 (MR)     $2.99
OCT150538     ISLAND #5 (MR)     $7.99
OCT150496     JUPITERS CIRCLE VOL 2 #2 CVR A SIENKIEWICZ (MR)     $3.50
OCT150497     JUPITERS CIRCLE VOL 2 #2 CVR B QUITELY (MR)     $3.50
AUG150535     KAPTARA TP VOL 01 FEAR NOT TINY ALIEN     $9.98
SEP150539     NAMELESS #6 (MR)     $2.99
OCT150541     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #14 (MR)     $2.99
OCT150555     PRETTY DEADLY #7 (MR)     $3.50
OCT150558     ROCHE LIMIT TP VOL 02 CLANDESTINY (MR)     $12.99
OCT150559     SAGA #32 (MR)     $2.99
OCT150561     SIDEKICK #12 CVR A MANDRAKE & HIFI (MR)     $2.99
OCT150562     SIDEKICK #12 CVR B TEMPLESMITH (MR)     $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

NOV150730     ASSASSINS CREED GAUNTLET W/HIDDEN BLADE     PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 23, 2015

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
NOV150004     PREVIEWS #328 JAN 2016 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM     PI
NOV150001     PREVIEWS #328 JANUARY 2016     $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT151235     ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT TP     $19.99
OCT151366     ALICE COOPER VS CHAOS #4 RARE CHIN VIRGIN ED     $50.00
SEP151779     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #5 A CVR METCALF (MR)     $3.99
SEP151780     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #5 B CVR SPAY (MR)     $3.99
SEP151781     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #5 C CVR ANDERSON (MR)     $3.99
SEP151782     ALIENS VS ZOMBIES #5 D CVR CAFARO (MR)     $3.99
SEP151144     ARCADIA #7     $3.99
OCT151105     BETTY & VERONICA COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #239     $4.99
OCT151565     BLOOD FEUD #3     $3.99
OCT151768     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 ONE DOLLAR DEBUT ED     $1.00
OCT151752     BLOODSHOT REBORN #9 CVR A SUAYAN     $3.99
OCT151753     BLOODSHOT REBORN #9 CVR B JOHNSON     $3.99
OCT151754     BLOODSHOT REBORN #9 CVR C FABRY     $3.99
AUG151469     CHEECH WIZARDS BOOK OF ME HC (MR)     $29.99
SEP151568     CITRUS GN VOL 04 (MR)     $13.99
OCT151591     CODE MONKEY SAVE WORLD GN     $14.99
OCT151013     CYRUS PERKINS AND THE HAUNTED TAXI CAB #3     $3.99
SEP151570     D FRAG GN VOL 07     $12.99
SEP151118     DEEP STATE TP VOL 02     $14.99
AUG151426     DF CAPT MARVEL & CAROL CORPS #1 DECONNICK SGN     $19.68
OCT151426     DF GRUMPY CAT #3 DF EXC HAESER     $10.00
OCT151428     DF PRECINCT #1 DF EXC BENITEZ     $10.00
AUG151433     DF WALKING DEAD #145 BLOOD RED GAUDIANO SGN     PI
OCT151653     DOCTOR WHO 11TH YEAR TWO #4 BROOKS SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
OCT151652     DOCTOR WHO 11TH YEAR TWO #4 REG CASSARA & GUERRERO     $3.99
SEP151598     DOCTOR WHO 12TH #15 REG RONALD     $3.99
SEP151599     DOCTOR WHO 12TH #15 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
OCT151727     DR MIRAGE SECOND LIVES #1 CVR A DJURDJEVIC     $3.99
OCT151728     DR MIRAGE SECOND LIVES #1 CVR B WADA     $3.99
OCT151729     DR MIRAGE SECOND LIVES #1 CVR C DE LA TORRE     $3.99
OCT151238     ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #13     $3.99
SEP151014     FATHOM BLUE #6 CVR A LORENZANA     $3.99
SEP151015     FATHOM BLUE #6 CVR B QUALANO     $3.99
SEP150896     FEMFORCE #173     $9.95
AUG151210     FICTION SQUAD TP     $19.99
SEP151571     FREEZING OMNIBUS GN VOL 03 (MR)     $19.99
OCT151863     GFT GRIMM TALES OF TERROR VOL 2 #3 A CVR ERIC J (MR)     $3.99
OCT151864     GFT GRIMM TALES OF TERROR VOL 2 #3 B CVR BIFULCO (MR)     $3.99
OCT151865     GFT GRIMM TALES OF TERROR VOL 2 #3 C CVR SANAPO (MR)     $3.99
OCT151369     GRUMPY CAT #3 RARE UY VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG151213     GUNNERKRIGG COURT TP VOL 02 RESEARCH     $16.99
OCT151566     HELLBREAK #9 (MR)     $3.99
OCT151453     HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #5     $3.99
SEP151747     INU X BOKU SS TP VOL 09     $13.00
OCT151339     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #14 CVR A CASAS (MR)     $3.99
OCT151340     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #14 CVR B MALSUNI (MR)     $3.99
OCT151341     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #14 CVR C LUPACCHINO (MR)     $3.99
OCT151342     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #14 CVR D EXC SUBSCRIPTION (MR)     $3.99
AUG151575     KING #3     $2.99
OCT158556     KLAUS #1 (3RD PTG)     $3.99
OCT151520     KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #226     $5.99
OCT151378     MERCY SPARX #10     $3.99
SEP151751     MONTHLY GIRLS NOZAKI KUN GN VOL 01     $13.00
SEP151187     MOON GIRL #1     $14.99
OCT151260     MUNCHKIN #12     $3.99
OCT151524     NINJA SLAYER KILLS GN VOL 02     $10.99
OCT151269     PEANUTS VOL 2 #29     $3.99
JUL151557     PRE CODE CLASSICS WITCHCRAFT SLIPCASE ED VOL 01     $69.99
OCT151363     PRECINCT #1 RARE BENITEZ VIRGIN ED     $50.00
OCT151021     PRINCELESS MAKE YOURSELF #0     $3.99
OCT151031     PUPPET MASTER #10 LUMSDEN CVR (MR)     $4.99
OCT151029     PUPPET MASTER #10 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99
OCT151757     RAI #12 CVR A INTERLOCKING CRAIN     $3.99
OCT151758     RAI #12 CVR B INTERLOCKING CRAIN     $3.99
OCT151759     RAI #12 CVR C SOOK     $3.99
OCT151571     RICK & MORTY #9     $3.99
OCT151870     ROBYN HOOD ONGOING TP VOL 03 ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT     $15.99
OCT151472     SELF STORAGE #3     $3.99
SEP150969     SESAME STREET BLAST FROM THE PAST     $3.99
SEP151557     SEVEN PERCENT #3     $3.50
OCT151616     SEVEN PERCENT #4     $3.50
OCT151481     SHADOW TIGER #4     $2.99
OCT151489     STAN LEE CHAKRA THE INVINCIBLE #6     $2.99
OCT151568     STRINGERS #5     $3.99
SEP151631     TABLE TITANS TP VOL 01 FIRST ENCOUNTERS     $19.99
OCT151229     TEEN DOG TP     $19.99
OCT151076     THE CHAIR SPECIAL ED GN (MR)     $17.99
OCT151255     TYSON HESSE DIESEL #4     $3.99
OCT151194     VENUS #1     $3.99
OCT151360     VOLTRON FROM THE ASHES #4     $3.99
SEP151626     WAKFU #1 REG     $3.99
SEP151627     WAKFU #1 SUBSCRIPTION     $3.99
OCT151244     WILDS END ENEMY WITHIN #4     $3.99
OCT151361     WILL EISNER SPIRIT #6 CVR A POWELL     $3.99
OCT151383     WITCHFINDER GENERAL #1     $3.99
OCT151220     WOODS TP VOL 03     $14.99
OCT151384     ZEN HARD BOUNTY #3     $3.99

MAGAZINES
JUL151911     COMIC BOOK CREATOR #10     $8.95
OCT151949     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1488     PI
JUL151902     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #72 WORLDS FINEST #77     $21.00
APR152040     DRAW #31 (MR)     $8.95
JUN151778     JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #66     $10.95
OCT151943     JUXTAPOZ #180 JAN 2016     $6.99
JUL151931     MEGAMI OCT 2015     $18.00
JUL151932     NEWTYPE OCT 2015     $18.00
OCT151601     NICKELODEON MAGAZINE #7     $4.99

BOOKS
NOV151849     AGES OF INCREDIBLE HULK ESSAYS ON GREEN GOLIATH SC     $40.00
SEP151810     ALTERNATIVE MOVIE POSTERS HC VOL 02 MORE FILM ART FROM UNDER     $34.99
AUG151504     ART OF ELFQUEST HC     $50.00
SEP151498     BLACK BAT RETURNS PROSE NOVEL     $13.95
OCT151913     BUFF MONSTER STAY MELTY HC     $29.95
SEP151812     LITTLE BOOK OF DRIBEN FLEXICOVER (MR)     $9.99
SEP151813     LITTLE BOOK OF ELVGREN FLEXICOVER (MR)     $9.99
OCT151448     RONALD SEARLE AMERICA HC     $85.00
OCT151919     STAR WARS 5 MINUTE STAR WARS STORIES HC     $12.99
NOV151877     STAR WARS ART OF STAR WARS FORCE AWAKENS HC     $40.00
AUG158502     STAR WARS ART POSTER COLL FEATURING 20 REMOVABLE PRINTS (RES)     $19.95
SEP151868     STAR WARS FORCE AWAKENS INCREDIBLE CROSS SECTIONS HC     $19.99
SEP151869     STAR WARS FORCE AWAKENS VISUAL DICTIONARY HC     $19.99

One Piece: Just Keep Going

I read One Piece, Vol. 76

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

Review: Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (OGN)

HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Troy Little – @meanwhilestudio
STORY: Hunters S. Thompson (his novel)
EDITORS: Ted Adams and Denton J. Tipton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-375-0; hardcover (October 2015)
176pp, Color, $24.99 U.S.

Mature readers (16+)

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream first saw life as a two-art series for Rolling Stone magazine in 1971.  It was published as a book  (with illustrations by Ralph Steadman)  in 1972 and has gone onto be considered one of the most important American novels ever published.

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a full-color graphic novel adaptation of Thompson's novel.  The graphic novel is the creation of Eisner-nominated comic book creator and writer-artist, Troy Little (Chiaroscuro).  The original novel is influential; its adaptation by Troy Little is a masterwork.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson's alter ego), and Duke's attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they travel to Las Vegas.  This story is based on two actual trips to Las Vegas that Thompson took with his attorney, the Chicano activist, Oscar Zeta Acosta, who becomes Dr. Gonzo in the story.

In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Duke and Gonzo are initially in Las Vegas to cover “The Mint 400,” an off-road race for motorcycles and dune buggies that apparently offers the richest prize or purse for the winners.  The second Las Vegas assignment is a request by Rolling Stone for Duke to write a 50 thousand word piece about a four-day seminar by the National Conference of District Attorneys.

Along the way, Duke and Gonzo descend into a haze from their drug and alcohol-fueled bender.  Duke searches for the American dream and ruminates on the failure of the 1960s counter-culture movement.  After crashing a drug-enforcement conference, racking-up large room-service bills, and wrecking two hotel rooms, however, both men will discover that it is difficult to leave Las Vegas.

As a former journalism student, I have heard of Hunter S. Thompson, of course.  He was the gold-standard and a legend to fellow students, but to me, he was just another famous White journalist upon whose altar I was supposed to worship.  I have never read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, although I have had vague plans to do so for over two decades.  I had seen him on television several times before he died, and I have read at least one piece written by him.  Perhaps, I have read more, but I don't remember any of it.

I know Thompson best by the most famous parody of him, “Uncle Duke,” the character in Doonesbury, Gary Trudeau's long-running satirical daily newspaper comic strip.  I am familiar with the movie adaptations of Thompson's work, but have not seen those films.  So, when Top Shelf Productions sent me a copy of their graphic novel adaptation, Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I did not know what I was going to do.  I considered ignoring it and not reading it, but Top Shelf has always been cool with recognizing me as someone they want to review their books.

Of course, I should have had more faith in them.  This book is an absolute blast to read.  It is one of the best comic books of 2015, and I consider it a tremendous achievement on writer-artist Troy Little's part.  Readers who admire comic books as more than just escapist entertainment, and thus, are always on the lookout for standout material, should read Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

The graphical storytelling, in particularly the art and illustrations of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas the comic book, focuses on Duke and Gonzo's supernatural consumption of drugs, alcohol, and an amazing array of mind-altering substances.  Little's cartoon recreation of Duke and Gonzo's mother-of-all-Vegas-benders is the most beautiful depiction of debauched substance abuse that I have seen since I first watched director Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream (2000).

The vivid and spectacular colors bring the hallucinations and the claustrophobic cafes, conference rooms, and hotel rooms to life.  Little's drawing style for this graphic novel is similar to the kind of drawing styles used by political cartoonists, which works quite well when the story engages the characters.  The political styling connects Raoul Duke's political and social examinations to the main body of the narrative, which is about Duke and Dr. Gonzo's madness.

I think that if the book has a fault, it is that the political and social ruminations are relegated to exposition in caption boxes.  The art mainly focuses on the insanity of and the savage humor in Duke and Gonzo's interactions with drugs and with other people.  Because I loved the glorious madness of Duke and Gonzo's demented Vegas adventures, I really don't want to find fault with anything, so if you want to believe that this graphic novel is not perfect, there you go...  I was genuinely sad when I got to the last page of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  I guess I'll have to start reading it again.

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.

Yo-Kai Watch: Beware the Bristly Germs

I read Yo-kai Watch, Vol. 2

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

Review: Star Wars LANDO #5

LANDO No. 5
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Charles Soule
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Alex Maleev
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2015)

Rated T

“Part V”

Lando Calrissian, the first Star Wars character portrayed onscreen by a Black man (Oscar-nominated actor, Billy Dee Williams), got his first solo comic book series in the year 2015... yeah.  After a cumulative three decades of Star Wars comic books, no Lando, no Black man.  The title, launched early this past summer, was Lando, written by Charles Soule, drawn by Alex Maleev, colored by Paul Mounts, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  You can't have everything, as they say; no African-American comics creators participated in Lando's creation.  Sigh.

Lando begins with gambler, hustler, ladies' man, businessman, etc., Lando Calrissian, trying to pay off a huge past debt.  Lando and his longtime cohort, Lobot, led a team of alien clone warriors, Aleksin and Pavol, and antiquity specialist, Sava Korin Pers, in the heist of “The Imperialis,” an Imperial Luxury yacht.  What they did not know is that the yacht is the personal property of Emperor Palpatine, and it contains a treasure horde of Jedi and Sith artifacts.  Meanwhile, the Emperor sends bounty hunter, Chanath Cha, to deal with the situation.  She has past with Lando and Lobot...

As Lando #5 (“Part V”) opens, Lando is trying to make a deal with Chanath, while she prepares to blow up the Imperialis.  He is desperate to help the grievously injured Lobot and also still salvage something from this heist.  Deals will be made, but the people who turn out to be loyal and those who turn out to be backstabbers will surprise Lando.

After reading Lando #1, I was pleased with the art by Alex Maleev.  I found that, in terms of design and graphic style, the comic book looked like The Empire Strikes Back.  For me, Alex Maleev's art on Lando recalled the work of legendary comic book artist, Al Williamson, who drew Marvel Comics' six-issue adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back (published in issues #39 to 44 of Marvel's original Star Wars comic book series).  Even colorist Paul Mounts seemed to have The Empire Strikes Back's color palette in mind as he colored Maleev's original art for Lando #1.  Nothing has changed.  To the end, Lando is still a great looking comic book.

As for Charles Soule's story and script for the first issue, I thought there was potential for an excellent Star Wars comic book.  Indeed, it has worked out that way.  In fact, the heist has many exciting twists and turns that had me eagerly awaiting each issue.  I always read Lando first on new comics day.

I think Soule also presented an exceptional character study of Lando, creating the complex and fascinating guy we've always known to be there behind what we were given in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (1983).  Relatively speaking, there wasn't much depicted onscreen about his personality (beyond his guile and beguiling ways), nor was there much about his hopes, dreams, and inner demons.  Soule gave that to us with Lando.  I hope we get more.  No fan of Star Wars comic books should miss Lando.

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.

Terra Formars: Bullet Ant

I read Terra Formars, Vol. 9

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