Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 11, 2018

MARVEL COMICS

JAN181053    AMERICA TP VOL 02 FAST AND FUERTONA    $17.99
FEB180788    AVENGERS #688 LEG    $3.99
FEB180789    AVENGERS #688 SPROUSE END OF AN ERA VAR LEG    $3.99
JAN181075    AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION TP AVENGERS DEFENDERS WAR    $39.99
FEB180784    BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #17 LEG    $3.99
JAN181045    CABLE TP VOL 02 NEWER MUTANTS    $15.99
FEB180754    CAPTAIN AMERICA #700 LEG    $5.99
FEB180795    CHAMPIONS #19 LEG    $3.99
JAN181054    DEADPOOL VS OLD MAN LOGAN TP    $15.99
FEB180897    DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #298 LEG    $3.99
FEB180776    DOCTOR STRANGE #388 LEG    $3.99
FEB180770    DOMINO #1    $3.99
FEB180762    EXILES #1    $3.99
FEB180861    FALCON #7 LEG    $3.99
JAN181030    HULK BY BROOKS VINYL POSTER    $34.99
JAN181048    JEAN GREY TP VOL 02 FINAL FIGHT    $15.99
OCT170990    MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 18    $75.00
OCT170991    MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 18 DM VAR ED 258    $75.00
FEB180895    OLD MAN LOGAN #38 LEG    $3.99
JAN181056    PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 02 MOST WANTED    $17.99
FEB180846    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #31 LEG    $3.99
JAN181051    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL TP VOL 05 ARMS RACE    $17.99
FEB180908    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #14    $3.99
FEB180903    STAR WARS THRAWN #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB180863    THANOS #18 LEG    $3.99
FEB180824    TRUE BELIEVERS INFINITY GAUNTLET #1    $1.00
FEB180825    TRUE BELIEVERS THANOS RISING #1    $1.00
FEB180860    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #31 LEG    $3.99
JAN181052    UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL TP VOL 05 LOST IN THE PLOT    $15.99
FEB180803    VENOMIZED #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB180805    VENOMIZED #2 (OF 5) BAGLEY CONNECTING VAR    $3.99
FEB180884    X-MEN BLUE #25 LEG    $4.99
OCT170994    X-MEN LEGIONQUEST HC    $75.00
FEB180880    X-MEN RED #3 LEG    $3.99


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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for April 11, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN181204    ADVENTURE FINDERS #4    $3.99
DEC171256    ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 14    $14.99
JAN181139    AFTERSHOCK SHOCK HC    $34.99
FEB181642    ALGERIA IS BEAUTIFUL LIKE AMERICA HC    $24.99
DEC171987    ALICE IN MURDERLAND HC VOL 08    $17.00
DEC171760    ANCIENT DREAMS #7 (RES)    $3.99
DEC171988    ANGELS OF DEATH GN VOL 02 (MR)    $13.00
JAN181144    ANIMOSITY EVOLUTION #5 (MR)    $3.99
FEB181128    ARCHIE AND ME COMICS DIGEST #6    $6.99
JAN181233    ARCHIES #6 CVR B PARENT    $3.99
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FEB181124    ARCHIES BIG BOOK TP VOL 03 ROCK N ROLL    $19.99
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DEC171859    ASSASSINS CREED ORIGINS #2 (OF 4) CVR B INFANTE    $3.99
FEB181817    ATLAS AND AXIS #4 (OF 4) (MR)    $5.99
FEB181626    ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 24 (MR)    $10.99
FEB180957    BEST WE COULD DO ILLUSTRATED MEMOIR SC    $17.99
JAN182084    BETRAYAL KNOWS MY NAME GN VOL 08    $13.00
FEB181129    BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #262    $6.99
FEB181170    BIG PLANET COMICS RED SC (MR)    $6.00
FEB181902    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #8 CVR A ROCAFORT    $3.99
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FEB181904    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #8 CVR C ZAFFINO    $3.99
FEB180958    BRIDGE HOW ROEBLINGS CONNECTED BROOKLYN NEW YORK HC    $24.99
FEB181021    BROTHERS DRACUL #1 CVR A COLAK (MR)    $3.99
FEB181022    BROTHERS DRACUL #1 CVR B KUDRANSKI (MR)    $3.99
FEB181135    BUBBLEGUN TP VOL 02 SEVERED LIES    $12.99
AUG171282    CAPTAIN SWING TP SP ED (MR)    $5.99
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FEB181651    CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #6    $3.99
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FEB181143    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #3 (OF 6) CVR B RANDOLPH    $3.99
JAN181461    CISCO KID JOSE LUIS SALINAS & REED TP VOL 04 1957-1959    $25.95
FEB181026    COLD WAR #3    $3.99
AUG171272    DARK GODS TP VOL 01 SP ED (MR)    $5.99
FEB181781    DEAD DUCK & ZOMBIE CHICK RISING GRAVE ONE SHOT    $4.99
AUG171665    DF ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 RARE BROOKS CVR SOULE SGN    $29.99
JAN181617    DF DARK NIGHTS METAL #1 MIDTOWN COMICS EXC    $29.99
JUN171657    DF MISTER MIRACLE #1 KING SGN    $39.99
FEB181513    DF TRADING CARDS MICHAEL TURNER SGN ED    $299.99
NOV171635    DF WALKING DEAD #174 HAESER NEGAN SKETCH    $69.99
DEC171994    ERASED HC VOL 04    $30.00
DEC171082    ETERNAL THIRST OF DRACULA #2 MAIN CVR (MR)    $3.99
DEC171083    ETERNAL THIRST OF DRACULA #2 RAVAGE NUDE CVR (MR)    $5.99
FEB181785    FINDER DELUXE ED GN VOL 06 YOURE MY DESIRE (MR)    $14.99
FEB181131    FORWARD GN    $18.95
JAN181854    FRACTURED MIND #1    $3.95
FEB181684    GAMAYUN TALES GN VOL 01 KING OF THE BIRDS    $16.95
AUG171251    GEORGE RR MARTIN FEVRE DREAM TP SP ED (MR)    $5.99
JAN182105    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #1 CVR A    $3.99
JAN182106    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #1 CVR B    $3.99
JAN182107    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #1 CVR C    $3.99
JAN182108    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #1 CVR D BLANK SKETCH COVER    $10.00
FEB181645    GHOST MONEY #9 (OF 10) (MR)    $3.99
JAN182086    GOBLIN SLAYER GN VOL 02 (MR)    $13.00
OCT171148    GOLD DIGGER #251    $3.99
JAN181962    GOLDFISCH MANGA GN VOL 02    $10.99
JAN181855    GOTHIC TALES OF HAUNTED LOVE SC (MR)    $25.00
FEB181780    HAUNTED HIGH ONS ONE SHOT    $3.99
FEB181633    HEROIC LEGEND OF ARSLAN GN VOL 08    $10.99
FEB181609    HG WELLS TIME MACHINE GN    $17.99
FEB181931    HOMESTUCK HC VOL 01 ACT 1 & 2    $24.99
FEB181634    IN SPECTRE GN VOL 07 (RES)    $10.99
JAN182088    ISOLATOR GN VOL 03    $13.00
FEB181959    ITSUWARIBITO GN VOL 23    $9.99
NOV171104    JACK HAMMER PAPER HERO ONE SHOT    $3.99
JAN181759    KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #253    $5.99
NOV171494    LARKS KILLER #6 (OF 7) CVR A MOORE    $3.99
NOV171495    LARKS KILLER #6 (OF 7) CVR B LOTFI    $3.99
NOV171496    LARKS KILLER #6 (OF 7) CVR C WILLINGHAM    $3.99
DEC171279    LOOKERS EMBER #7 (MR)    $5.99
DEC171298    LOOKERS EMBER #7 GGA HOMAGE (MR)    $5.99
DEC171291    LOOKERS EMBER #7 GGA HOMAGE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171284    LOOKERS EMBER #7 HIGH SPEED (MR)    $5.99
DEC171300    LOOKERS EMBER #7 HIGH SPEED BIKINI (MR)    $5.99
DEC171302    LOOKERS EMBER #7 HIGH SPEED NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171289    LOOKERS EMBER #7 HIGH SPEED TOPLESS (MR)    $7.99
DEC171285    LOOKERS EMBER #7 LUSCIOUS (MR)    $5.99
DEC171293    LOOKERS EMBER #7 LUSCIOUS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171290    LOOKERS EMBER #7 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171282    LOOKERS EMBER #7 RED HOT (MR)    $5.99
DEC171287    LOOKERS EMBER #7 RED HOT NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171299    LOOKERS EMBER #7 SEXY SPIES (MR)    $5.99
DEC171292    LOOKERS EMBER #7 SEXY SPIES NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171283    LOOKERS EMBER #7 WORKOUT (MR)    $5.99
DEC171288    LOOKERS EMBER #7 WORKOUT NUDE (MR)    $7.99
DEC171281    LOOKERS EMBER #7 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
DEC171286    LOOKERS EMBER #7 WRAP NUDE (MR)    $7.99
FEB181635    LOVE AND LIES GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
FEB181963    LUCY & ANDY NEANDERTHAL GN VOL 01    $7.99
FEB181965    LUCY & ANDY NEANDERTHAL GN VOL 02 STONE COLD AGE    $7.99
FEB181961    MAGI GN VOL 29    $9.99
DEC170979    MEN OF MYSTERY #107    $29.95
DEC171846    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #4 (OF 4) CVR A H    $3.99
DEC171847    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #4 (OF 4) CVR B V    $3.99
FEB181929    MY BOY GN VOL 01    $12.95
JAN181206    MY HERO MAGADEMIA WALL MIGHT    $4.99
FEB181623    NICK THE SIDEKICK YR HC GN    $14.99
FEB181894    NINJA-K #6 (NEW ARC) CVR A ZONJIC    $3.99
FEB181895    NINJA-K #6 (NEW ARC) CVR B QUAH    $3.99
SEP171954    NORMANDY GOLD TP (MR)    $19.99
NOV171940    PENNY DREADFUL TP VOL 02 BEAUTEOUS EVIL    $16.99
MAY171648    PHANTOM COMP SUNDAYS HC VOL 04 1950-1953    $65.00
DEC171064    PINK PANTHER VS INSPECTOR #1 CLASSIC PINK CVR    $3.99
DEC171063    PINK PANTHER VS INSPECTOR #1 PINK HIJINKS CVR    $3.99
DEC171062    PINK PANTHER VS INSPECTOR #1 WHICH WAY MAIN CVR    $3.99
JAN181768    PRINCESS JELLYFISH GN VOL 08    $19.99
FEB182110    PRISONER 155 GN    $26.00
FEB181583    RED DOG COMPLETE GRAPHIC NOVEL TP    $19.99
FEB188018    RICK & MORTY PRESENTS THE VINDICATORS #1 (2ND PTG)    $4.99
DEC171824    ROBOTECH ARCHIVE OMNIBUS VOL 01 (OF 3)    $24.99
FEB181826    SEA OF THIEVES #2 CVR A MARCELLIUS    $3.99
FEB181827    SEA OF THIEVES #2 CVR B GAME    $3.99
FEB181811    SEASON OF THE SNAKE #1 CVR A ROY    $6.99
FEB181812    SEASON OF THE SNAKE #1 CVR B MICHAUD    $6.99
FEB181477    SECONDHAND HEROES GN VOL 03 LAST BATTLE    $10.99
DEC171762    SOUTHERN NIGHTGOWN #6 (RES)    $3.99
DEC172004    SPIRITS & CAT EARS GN VOL 05 (MR)    $13.00
FEB181184    SPONGEBOB COMICS #79    $3.99
FEB181805    SUPERMANSION #1 (OF 2) CVR A ELPHICK (RES) (MR)    $5.99
FEB181806    SUPERMANSION #1 (OF 2) CVR B TV SHOW (RES) (MR)    $5.99
FEB181807    SUPERMANSION #1 (OF 2) CVR C HURN (RES) (MR)    $5.99
DEC171113    THE GWAII GN    $24.95
FEB181734    THEORY OF MAGIC #1 NEW PRINTING    $3.99
FEB181735    THEORY OF MAGIC #2 NEW PRINTING    $3.99
FEB181736    THEORY OF MAGIC #3 NEW PRINTING    $3.99
DEC171763    THEORY OF MAGIC #5 (RES)    $3.99
JAN181309    WARCRAFT LEGEND VOL 05    $12.95
JAN181308    WARCRAFT SUNWELL TRILOGY TP VOL 01 DRAGON HUNT    $12.95
FEB181181    WEED MAGIC VOL 02 (MR)    $4.20
JAN182104    YOUR NAME GN VOL 03    $13.00

MAGAZINES
JAN181983    ALTER EGO #152    $9.95
DEC171889    BACK ISSUE #61 LONGBOX ED    $8.95
NOV172241    BRICKJOURNAL #50 SPECIAL ED    $17.95
DEC172097    HOBBY JAPAN MAR 2018    $20.00
JAN182176    NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 29 #2    $5.99

BOOKS
FEB182104    ART AND MAKING OF RAMPAGE HC    $45.00
FEB182087    AVENGERS STORYBOOK COLLECTION HC 2ND ED    $16.99
FEB182090    BOX MEETS CIRCLE PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS ARTIST SHOWCASE    $16.99
FEB181730    BUNCH OF JEWS AND OTHER STUFF    $15.00
FEB182102    DUCKTALES DOODLES SC    $12.99
FEB182776    FAR CRY PROSE NOVEL HC    $27.00
FEB182775    FAR CRY PROSE NOVEL SC    $9.99
FEB182109    HARRY POTTER TALKING DOBBY W BOOK KIT    $12.95
FEB181610    MAFIA III RISE AND FALL OF SAL MARCANO GN    $17.99
FEB181955    POKEMON SEEK & FIND HC LEGENDARY POKEMON    $9.99
FEB182040    ROBERT CRUMB SKETCHBOOK HC VOL 03 1975-1982 (MR)    $40.00
FEB182041    SKETCHBOOK OF LOISH HC    $34.99
FEB182113    STAR TREK LIGHT & SOUND BORG CUBE KIT    $12.95
FEB182116    STAR WARS LIGHTSABERS GUIDE TO WEAPONS OF FORCE HC    $14.99
FEB182091    TRAVELS WITH WALT HC    $29.99

MERCHANDISE
JAN180039    FCBD 2018 2000 AD REGENED    $PI
JAN180009    FCBD 2018 AVENGERS CAPTAIN AMERICA    $PI
JAN180007    FCBD 2018 BARRIER (Net) (MR)    $PI
JAN180027    FCBD 2018 BERLIN BY JASON LUTES  (MR)    $PI
JAN180019    FCBD 2018 BONGO COMICS FREE-FOR-ALL    $PI
JAN180042    FCBD 2018 BRIEF HISTORY OF TANK GIRL    $PI
JAN180005    FCBD 2018 COMICS FRIENDS FOREVER    $PI
JAN180056    FCBD 2018 COMM ARTIST BLUMENREICH POSTER    $11.99
JAN180049    FCBD 2018 CRUSH    $PI
JAN180004    FCBD 2018 DC COMICS DC SUPER HERO GIRLS #1 (Net)    $PI
JAN180051    FCBD 2018 DEFEND COMICS    $PI
JAN180021    FCBD 2018 DIE KITTY DIE I LOVE YOU TO DEATH    $PI
JAN180008    FCBD 2018 DISNEY PRINCESS ARIEL SPOTLIGHT    $PI
JAN180011    FCBD 2018 DOCTOR WHO #0    $PI
JAN180028    FCBD 2018 FANTAGRAPHICS WORLDS GREATEST CARTOONISTS (MR    $PI
JAN180033    FCBD 2018 GHOST IN THE SHELL GLOBAL NEURAL NETWORK    $PI
JAN180029    FCBD 2018 GRAPHIX SPOTLIGHT SPARKS    $PI
JAN180016    FCBD 2018 HOWARD LOVECRAFTS BIG BOOK OF SUMMER FUN    $PI
JAN180035    FCBD 2018 INFINITY WATCH AMAZING SPIDER-MAN    $PI
JAN180010    FCBD 2018 INVADER ZIM FLOOPSY BLOOPS SHMOOPSY    $PI
JAN180022    FCBD 2018 INVASION    $PI
JAN180018    FCBD 2018 LADY MECHANIKA    $PI
JAN180050    FCBD 2018 MALIKA - CREED & FURY    $PI
JAN180047    FCBD 2018 MAXWELLS DEMONS #1    $PI
JAN180030    FCBD 2018 METABARON META GUARDIANESS AND TECHNO BARON    $PI
JAN180014    FCBD 2018 MIRACULOUS ADVENTURES    $PI
JAN180043    FCBD 2018 NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS ZEROS JOURNEY #0    $PI
JAN180038    FCBD 2018 ONLY LIVING BOY    $PI
JAN180052    FCBD 2018 OVERSTREET GUIDE TO COLLECTING    $PI
JAN180012    FCBD 2018 POKEMON SUN & MOON & HORIZON    $PI
JAN180015    FCBD 2018 RELAY #0    $PI
JAN180001    FCBD 2018 RIVERDALE (ONGOING) (Net)    $PI
JAN180040    FCBD 2018 SCOUT COMICS PRESENTS THE MALL    $PI
JAN180037    FCBD 2018 SHADOW ROADS #1    $PI
JAN180046    FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL    $PI
JAN180024    FCBD 2018 SILVER    $PI
JAN180045    FCBD 2018 SPONGEBOB FREESTYLE FUNNIES    $PI
JAN180041    FCBD 2018 STARBURNS PRESENTS #1  (MR)    $0.25
JAN180013    FCBD 2018 STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #1  (MR)    $PI
JAN180032    FCBD 2018 STREET ANGELS DOG    $PI
JAN180036    FCBD 2018 TICK 2018 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY    $PI
JAN180044    FCBD 2018 ULTRA STREET FIGHTER II #1    $PI
JAN180048    FCBD 2018 VIZ MY HERO ACADEMIA & RWBY    $PI
JAN180017    FCBD 2018 WORLDS OF ASPEN ANNIV ED    $PI
JAN180034    FCBD 2018 WORM WORLD SAGA    $PI

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Review: THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE Volume 1

THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Meca Tanaka
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9897-0; paperback (March 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Young Master's Revenge (Kimi no Koto nado Zettai ni) is a manga (Japanese comics) from creator, Meca Tanaka.  The series is published in the Japanese manga magazine, LaLa.  VIZ Media is publishing the manga in English as the graphic novel series, The Young Master's Revenge.  VIZ Media has also launched The Young Master's Revenge digitally via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores.

The Young Master's Revenge introduces Leo Tachibana.  Leo wants revenge for an incident that occurred ten years ago.  His target is a childhood friend, the rich girl Tenma Tsuwabuki.  When he is reunited with Tenma, however, Leo discovers that she and her family have fallen on hard times.

The Young Master's Revenge, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) opens as Leo returns to Japan.  His first stop is to visit the home of Tenma, the girl who destroyed his pride.  However, the family business, Tachibana Department Store, is now bankrupt, and Leo finds the Tachibana estate abandoned and in disrepair.  Inside the dilapidated home, Leo finds Tenma scrounging for family heirlooms and treasure that she can sell.  Leo decides if he is to get revenge, he will have to take this sad former “princess” under his care, and make her love him so that he can break her heart.  But will it be that easy?

[This volume includes the bonus manga, “If It's About Me, Keep It Brief” and “Meca Site.”]

Sweet and frothy, The Young Master's Revenge manga is a familiar tale of reunions and ulterior motives.  This series is also from manga writer-artist, Meca Tanaka, the creator of the sweet and delightful shojo manga, Meteor Prince (which VIZ Media published in English back in 2015 in a two-graphic novel series).

The Young Master's Revenge Graphic Novel Volume 1 reveals that Tanaka will bolster this manga's slight premise with supporting characters that are interesting, conniving, and aggressive.  Two of the best are Tenma's jilted fiancé, Gou Gamada, and the student council president, Masaomi Barazono, who is just like one of those rich boy villains out of a John Hughes' teen romantic comedy.

The Young Master's Revenge is not exactly “Shojo Beat” empty calories.  There is some substance inside and a tart cherry on top of the shojo ice cream sundae that is The Young Master's Revenge.  I like it, and I'm giving the first volume a high grade.

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You'


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------

Review CURSE WORDS #2

CURSE WORDS No. 2
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Charles Soule
ART: Ryan Browne
COLORS: Michael Garland with Ryan Browne and Michael Parkinson
LETTERS: Chris Crank
COVER: Ryan Browne
VARIANT COVERS: Chip Zdarsky; Ryan Browne
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated M / Mature

Curse Words is a new ongoing fantasy comic book series from Image Comics.  It is created by comic book writer Charles Soule, known for his work on Daredevil and Death of Wolverine (both from Marvel Comics), and artist Ryan Browne, known for his comic book, God Hates Astronauts (also published by Image Comics).

Curse Words stars Wizord, a wizard from another world who appears one day in New York City, specifically Central Park.  Of course, the first people to encounter him end up in an unfortunate situation, but eventually he is seen as the city's “sorcerous protector.”  A confrontation with a murderous rival, however, made Wizord do something terrible to the city, and now, he has to come up with an incredible fix-it.

As Curse Words #2 opens, Wizord is trying to do something for the people he... minimized.  He is determined to prove that he is not a monster, although his koala companion, Margaret, is dubious.  Meanwhile, back in the Hole World, old adversaries prepare to destroy Wizord.

Curse Words instantly impresses with its eye-popping art.  Visually and graphically, artist Ryan Browne makes Curse Words a thing of fiery comic book storytelling magic, with the help of those dazzling vivid colors by Michael Garland with Ryan Browne and Michael Parkinson.  It is hard to believe that someone would flip through this comic book and not try at least one issue.

The story by Charles Soule is a dark fantasy that is darker by the minute.  It threatens violence, but promises imagination and inventiveness in a way Garth Ellis did with Preacher.  I still think this series could be a standout.  We shall see...

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication and reprint rights and fees.

---------------------------

Review: RELIC OF THE DRAGON

RELIC OF THE DRAGON
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Adrian Benatar
ART: Miguel Angel Garcia
TRANSLATION: Anna Rosenwong
LETTERS: Ron Estevez
COVER: Miguel Angel Garcia
EDITORS: Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon
ISBN: 978-1-68405-215-8; hardcover (March 2018)
56pp, Color, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN (February 21, 2018)

Relic of the Dragon is a hardcover, full-color, comic book from artist Miguel Ángel García and writer Adrian Benatar.  At the trim six of 6.25 x 9.25, Relic of the Dragon is like a half-size version of the European graphic album and the children's picture book.

Relic of the Dragon uses the classic you-choose-the-story format to tell the story of a dwarf forced to embark on a dangerous quest to find a new relic that will benefit his village.  Relic of the Dragon combines elements of classic sword-and-sorcery RPGs (role-playing games) and classic sword-and-sorcery storytelling (Conan the Cimmerian), Norse sagas, and epic fantasy (The Lord of the Rings).

Relic of the Dragon introduces Urik the dwarf, a great warrior.  A village elder has just consulted the “Oracle of the Gods,” and the word of the gods has revealed the arrival of a “new relic.”  According to the elder, Urik is just the hero that can find “The Relic of the Dragon.”  Urik is surprised to discover that he is the brave warrior who must obtain the relic, but he is a bit unsettled that the elder refers to him as “a tribute” rather than as “a brave warrior.”

Urik begins the quest to find “The Relic of the Dragon,” and he will need help from his trusty spirit guide if he is to find the relic and return home safe and sound.  There is just one problem.  You, the reader, are his spirit guide that will chose which path Urik will take every time he comes to a proverbial fork in the road.

I must say that Relic of the Dragon is such a wonderful, imaginative, and colorful comic book that I wish Miguel Ángel García and Adrian Benatar were the creative team behind at least one comic book based on a Robert E. Howard character (Conan, Kull, Red Sonja).  Now, that I think about it, Relic of the Dragon has a bit of Sergio Aragones' Groo the Wanderer about it.

Benatar has written a surprisingly delightful story with many imaginative twists, turns, and traps.  The variations are inventive enough that many readers will, upon finishing the story, go back and read the parts of the story they did not choose.

García's fantasy cartooning is the best that I have seen in quite a while, and his coloring is a storm of rich and vivid hues.  Talk about eye candy; I can't help but keep flipping through this comic book that is almost an art book.  Letterer Ron Estevez delivers lettering that highlights the epic fantasy and sword-and-sorcery in this story, but also manages to capture the wry humor that undercurrents this tale.

I like being surprised by comic books of which I did not expect much, and this comic book certainly surprised me.  I hope that Relic of the Dragon is the first of many comics from Miguel Ángel García and Adrian Benatar produce.

8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: X-MEN: Grand Design #1

X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Ed Piskor
COVER: Ed Piskor
48pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (February 2018)

Rated T+

X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team.  The X-Men were created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, and the original and foundation characters first appeared in The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963).  Those characters are Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) – the X-Men; and their leader, Professor X and their primary adversary, Magneto.

The X-Men and Professor X are mutants, a subspecies of humans who are born with superhuman abilities.  The X-Men fight for peace and equality between normal humans and mutants in a world where anti-mutant bigotry is fierce and widespread.  Magneto and those later allied with him fight to conquer humans so that they can rule over them.

One could say that after 54 years, the X-Men have a fictional history and mythology that is quite convoluted.  However, the X-Men's knotty and tangled state of affairs has less to do with the passage of time and more to do with editorial, publishing, and business decisions regarding the X-Men franchise and line of comic book publications.

Enter cartoonist Ed Piskor.  He is best known for his long running webcomic, Hip Hop Family Tree, through which Piskor chronicles and traces the Byzantine origins and development of rap and hip hop music and Hip Hop culture.  Fantagraphics Books has successfully collected the webcomic into print via graphic album collections and a comic book series.

It was announced earlier in the year that Piskor was embarking on an X-Men comic book project for Marvel Comics.  Piskor would try to condense decades of X-Men comics into a cohesive and linear narrative – X-history as a mega-story.  The result is an announced six-issue miniseries, X-Men: Grand Design, which Piskor writes, draws, colors, and letters in its entirety.  The original announcement said that the series would recount six decades of X-Men (publishing?) history.  I have seen some articles that emphasize Piskor condensing 30 years of X-Men history in Grand Design.  We'll see...

X-Men: Grand Design #1 opens on The Watcher, the classic Marvel character that observes and records events.  One of many, this particular Watcher watches Earth.  His focus is currently on the mutants of Earth, primarily observing the activities of one Charles Xavier, a mutant who will gather a team of mutants that he will name, “The X-Men.”  Together, Xavier a.k.a. “Professor X” and his X-Men will change the world.  But first, Prof. X will have to gather just the right kind of mutants who can become just the students he needs.  Meanwhile, other players, mutants and otherwise, have their own plans for the mutants of Earth.

The first 30 years of X-Men comics begins in 1963 and ends in 1993.  Most of the comics that Piskor references for X-Men: Grand Design #1 were published in that time span, but several were published after 1993, including some that were published in the twenty-first century (a.k.a. “the 2000s”).  Thus, it can be said that X-Men: Grand Design provides a condensed history that it also a detailed list of specific big and consequential moments in X-Men history.

So is X-Men: Grand Design #1 a good comic book, and the answer is yes, but not specifically because it is an X-Men history.  In fact, Marvel Comics has produced X-Men comic books like this in the past, the best being X-Men #138 (cover dated: October 1980), a poignant coda to the “The Dark Phoenix Saga” by the legendary X-Men creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne.

X-Men: Grand Design #1 works because of Ed Piskor's aesthetic.  As writer, illustrator, colorist, and letterer, Piskor has created a unique graphical style that recalls comic books of the 1960s and 1970s.  Piskor produces comic books that are a visual, graphics package that is a “hands-on creation.”  Without the help of computers, comic books were once produced by people who used their hands, knowledge, training, and skills to draw, color, letter, cut, copy, paste, and measure in order to produce a physical package that was then sent to the printer to be turned into a physical comics publication.

That “old-timey” quality and Piskor's ability to create large, condensed histories without sacrificing the details of the stories is what makes X-Men: Grand Design #1 a grand comic book.  So it does not matter that this is about the X-Men.  It could be Avengers: Grand Design, Spider-Man: Grand Design or even “Grand Designs” about Superman and Batman; the attraction would still be Piskor.  Because Piskor loves comic books so much, it shows in his fantastic comics.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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