Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 9, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

MAR180635    ANALOG #2 CVR A SULLIVAN & BELLAIRE (MR)    $3.99
FEB188518    ANALOG #2 CVR B NOTO (MR)    $3.99
MAR180601    ANGELIC TP VOL 01 HEIRS & GRACES    $12.99
MAR180571    BARRIER #1 (OF 5) COLLECTORS ED (MR)    $4.99
MAR180573    BARRIER #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180708    BLACK CLOUD #9 (MR)    $3.99
FEB180548    DARK FANG TP VOL 01 EARTH CALLING (MR)    $9.99
JAN180731    DISSONANCE #3 (MR)    $3.99
FEB188844    ISOLA #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR180705    ISOLA #2 CVR A KERSCHL    $3.99
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MAR180598    MEDIEVAL SPAWN WITCHBLADE #1 (OF 4) CVR A HABERLIN    $2.99
FEB188898    MEDIEVAL SPAWN WITCHBLADE #1 (OF 4) CVR B MCFARLANE    $2.99
FEB188899    MEDIEVAL SPAWN WITCHBLADE #1 (OF 4) CVR C B&W MCFARLANE    $2.99
FEB180655    MONSTRESS #16 (MR)    $3.99
MAR180720    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #3 (MR)    $3.99
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MAR170783    SOUTHERN BASTARDS #20 CVR A LATOUR (MR)    $3.99
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FEB180717    YOUNGBLOOD #11 CVR A TOWE    $3.99
FEB180718    YOUNGBLOOD #11 CVR B LIEFELD    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 9, 2018

MARVEL COMICS

MAR181010    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
FEB180936    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VENOM INC TP    $19.99
FEB180946    DEATH OF WOLVERINE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $39.99
MAR180836    DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #300 BLANK VAR    $5.99
MAR180833    DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #300 KOBLISH 300 DEADPOOLS WRAPAROUND VA    $5.99
MAR180832    DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #300 LEG    $5.99
FEB180925    DESPICABLE DEADPOOL TP VOL 02 BUCKET LIST    $15.99
MAR181014    DOCTOR STRANGE #1 BY SAIZ POSTER    $8.99
MAR180912    DOMINO #2    $3.99
MAR180914    EXILES #3    $3.99
FEB180938    HAWKEYE KATE BISHOP TP VOL 03 FAMILY REUNION    $15.99
MAR180817    HUNT FOR WOLVERINE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAR180818    HUNT FOR WOLVERINE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #1 (OF 4) SILVA VAR    $3.99
MAR181015    IMMORTAL HULK #1 BY ROSS POSTER    $8.99
MAR180864    INCREDIBLE HULK #716 LEG    $3.99
FEB188753    INFINITY COUNTDOWN #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG KUDER VAR LEG    $4.99
MAR181011    IRON MAN BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
NOV171039    MMW MARVEL TEAM-UP HC VOL 03    $75.00
NOV171040    MMW MARVEL TEAM-UP HC VOL 03 DM VAR ED 259    $75.00
MAR180913    NEW MUTANTS DEAD SOULS #3 (OF 6) LEG    $3.99
MAR180932    OLD MAN LOGAN #39 LEG    $3.99
MAR180877    PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #304 LEG    $3.99
MAR180892    RUNAWAYS #9    $3.99
MAR180881    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #32 LEG    $3.99
MAR180965    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #16    $3.99
MAR180953    STAR WARS LAST JEDI ADAPTATION #1 (OF 6)    $4.99
MAR180970    STAR WARS THRAWN #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR181013    THOR #1 BY DEL MUNDO POSTER    $8.99
MAR181012    TONY STARK IRON MAN #1 BY LOZANO POSTER    $8.99
MAR180921    TRUE BELIEVERS WOLVERINE BLOOD HUNGRY #1    $1.00
MAR180920    TRUE BELIEVERS WOLVERINE VS SABRETOOTH #1    $1.00
MAR180896    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #32 LEG    $3.99
MAR180796    VENOM #1    $4.99
FEB180945    WEREWOLF BY NIGHT COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 03    $39.99
MAR181016    WHERES WOLVERINE BY NAUCK POSTER    $8.99
MAR180938    X-MEN BLUE #27 LEG    $3.99
MAR180847    YOU ARE DEADPOOL #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR180848    YOU ARE DEADPOOL #2 (OF 5) ESPIN RPG VAR    $3.99

Comics, Magazines, and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 9, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR181843    5 WORLDS GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $12.99
MAR181844    5 WORLDS HC GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $20.99
MAR182074    AJIN GN VOL 11 DEMI HUMAN    $12.95
MAR181782    AKISSI TALES OF MISCHIEF GN    $14.95
MAR181182    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #261    $6.99
FEB181031    BACKWAYS #5    $3.99
MAR181073    BETROTHED #3    $3.99
MAR181156    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR A VAUGHN    $3.99
MAR181157    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR B ANWAR    $3.99
MAR181158    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR C CABRERA    $3.99
MAY171199    CALEXIT #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV171866    CAPTAIN HARLOCK DIMENSIONAL VOYAGE GN VOL 03    $12.99
MAR181763    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #10    $3.99
MAR181762    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL TP VOL 02    $14.99
MAR181765    CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #7    $3.99
MAR181200    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR A VAZQUEZ    $3.99
MAR181201    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR B RANDOLPH    $3.99
MAR181966    COMIC BOOK STORY OF BASEBALL GN    $18.99
JAN181808    DALSTON MONSTERZZ GN    $19.95
JAN181614    DF INCREDIBLE HULK #714 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
FEB181511    DF WEAPON H #1 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
MAR181635    DISNEY MASTERS HC VOL 01 SCARPA MICKEY MOUSE DELTA DIMENSION    $29.99
NOV171917    DOCTOR WHO 11TH SAPLING HC VOL 03 BRANCHES    $22.99
MAR181753    ENCHANTED CHEST HC    $17.99
JAN181091    FEMFORCE #182    $9.95
MAR181751    GAME FOR ADVENTURE YR GN VOL 03 CHAVO THE INVISIBLE    $6.99
MAR181760    GHOST MONEY #10 (OF 10) (MR)    $3.99
NOV171216    GOLD DIGGER #252    $3.99
MAR181736    HAPPINESS GN VOL 07    $12.99
MAR181564    HELL HIGH GN (MR)    $15.00
MAR181907    HOLLISTON FRIENDSHIP IS TRAGIC GN    $5.99
MAR181622    JELLY VAMPIRE GN VOL 01    $19.99
FEB181306    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED IVORY ADULT (MR)    $39.99
NOV171873    LORD MARKSMAN & VANADIS GN VOL 06    $12.99
FEB180955    LOVE AND AARDVARKS #1 (OF 1)    $4.00
NOV171874    MAGICAL GIRL SITE GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
MAR181781    MEAN GIRLS CLUB PINK DAWN HC GN    $20.95
MAR181572    MUSHROOM FAN CLUB HC    $17.95
DEC171719    MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR GN    $19.99
DEC171706    OUT OF NOTHING GN    $22.99
JAN181664    REAL DEAL #8 (MR)    $8.00
MAR181785    RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO GN VOL 08 MANGA    $11.95
MAR181917    ROBOTECH #9 CVR A EDWARDS    $3.99
MAR181918    ROBOTECH #9 CVR B ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAR181919    ROBOTECH #9 CVR C QUIJADA    $3.99
FEB181081    ROCHELLE VOL 2 #1 (OF 3)    $3.99
MAR181650    ROCK STEADY GN BRILLIANT ADVICE MY BIPOLAR LIFE FORNEY    $19.99
MAR181075    ROUGH RIDERS RIDE OR DIE #4 (MR)    $3.99
MAR181943    SEA OF THIEVES #3 (OF 4) CVR A ZANFARDINO    $3.99
MAR181944    SEA OF THIEVES #3 (OF 4) CVR B GAME    $3.99
MAR181940    SEASON OF THE SNAKE #2    $6.99
MAR181379    SMASH GN VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE    $11.99
MAR181377    SMASH GN VOL 02 FEARLESS    $11.99
MAR181378    SMASH HC GN VOL 02 FEARLESS    $18.99
JAN181861    SMOKETOWN #7    $3.99
MAR181229    SPONGEBOB COMICS #80    $3.99
MAR182186    STAR WARS BLOCK HC    $16.99
MAR181934    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR A LEON (RES)    $5.99
MAR181935    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR B TV SHOW (RES)    $5.99
MAR181936    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR C HEBB (RES)    $5.99
MAR181742    SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING GN VOL 10    $12.99
JAN181157    THE THREE STOOGES TP VOL 02    $19.99
FEB181775    TO LOVE RU GN VOL 07-08 (MR)    $19.99
MAR181623    VERONA GN VOL 01    $24.99
MAR181921    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR A NAKAYAMA (RES)    $3.99
MAR181922    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR B SVENDSON (RES)    $3.99
MAR181923    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR C MAGILL (RES)    $3.99
FEB181914    WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR HC DLX ED    $49.99
JAN181650    ZAGOR THE ORIGINS GN    $23.99

MAGAZINES
JAN182187    HOBBY JAPAN APR 2018    $20.00
DEC172099    MEGAMI MAR 2018    $20.00
DEC172098    NEWTYPE MAR 2018    $20.00
MAR182212    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 NEWSSTAND ED    $9.99
MAR182213    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 PX ED    $9.99
FEB181079    STEAMPUNK GLAMOUR GAZETTE #1    $3.99

BOOKS
FEB182103    ANIME IMPACT MOVIES SHOWS CHANGED WORLD JAPANESE ANIMATION (    $27.99
MAR182164    BATMAN HAS A PLAN READ TO READ HC    $17.99
MAR182170    DOCTOR WHO WHO OLOGY REGENERATED ED OFFIC MISCELLANY HC    $19.99
NOV171884    GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05    $13.99
MAR182153    HOLLYWOOD BEACH BEAUTIES 1930-1970 HC    $30.00
MAR182191    I AM GANDHI GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY SC    $8.99
FEB181836    INFINITE STARS SF ANTHOLOGY SC    $19.95
MAR182158    LOIS LANE TRIPLE THREAT YA SC NOVEL    $9.95
MAR182190    PHOEBE & HER UNICORN BOARD BOOK TODAY ILL BE A UNICORN    $7.99
MAR181952    RIG MMPB    $14.95
MAR182154    SERAPH PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLAN AMATO HC (MR)    $40.00
MAR182162    SUPERGIRL YA NOVEL VOL 02 CURSE OF ANCIENTS    $13.99
MAR181904    UNFINISHED SC 3 POEMS    $10.00
FEB182089    WORLD OF READING THESE ARE THE AVENGERS SC    $4.99

Review: DEAD DEAD DEMON'S DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION Volume 1

DEAD DEAD DEMON'S DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Inio Asano
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9935-9; paperback (April 2018); Rated “M” for “Mature”
196pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN, £9.99 U.K.

Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction is seinen manga (comics for adults) from creator (mangaka), Inio Asano (Goodnight Punpun).  Beginning in April 2014, the manga is being serialized in the seinen manga magazines, Big Comic Spirits (Shogakukan).  VIZ Media is publishing the manga in English in North America as a graphic novel series under its “VIZ Signature” imprint in both print and digital formats.

Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction is about the life mundane and an alien invasion.  On August 31st – also known as 8/31 – three years ago, an alien mothership arrived on Earth and parked itself above Tokyo.  Now, the impending doom is starting to feel like an ordinary thing.  Kadode Koyama and her best friend, Ontan Nakagawa, track the aliens movement with enthusiasm and study for college entrance exams with less enthusiasm.

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 8) introduces two high school students who are longtime friends.  Kadode has a mad crush on their teacher, Mr. Watarase, and Ontan is really tired of the rest of humanity.

Meanwhile, conventional weapons have not done anything to defeat the aliens.  The Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) now has a new weapon, a green weapon, that will not contaminate the city the way another weapons have.  Kadode and Ontan monitor the situation closely on social media, but they still have their own teen melodramas upon which to focus.

[This volume includes an “extra” chapter.]

The Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction manga is a strange one.  This is, however, the work of Inio Asano, and his strange is usually a very good strange.

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Graphic Novel Volume 1 is more about the comedy-drama of Kadode and Ontan than it is an alien invasion genre drama.  This manga is like Independence Day mixed with a tame, teen girl spin on the film, Superbad.  It is odd and offbeat, but I really want to read more Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction.  You never know where Asano will take his narratives, but you will realize (eventually) that you are really, really glad that you are following the highways and byways of his storytelling.

Fans of the manga of Inio Asano will want to read the VIZ Signature title, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction.

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.

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Review: JAMES BOND #12 - Eidolon

JAMES BOND, VOL. 1 No. 12
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ART: Jason Masters
COLORS: Guy Major
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Dom Reardon
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

“Eidolon”

“James Bond” is the fictional British Secret Service agent created by Ian Fleming, a British writer and novelist.  Fleming introduced James Bond in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale, and featured the character in 12 novels and two short-story collections.  Of course, most people know Bond because of EON Productions' long-running James Bond-007 film series, which began with the 1962 film, Dr. No.

Over the past 50+ years, Bond has made sporadic appearances in comic books, and the latest Bond comic books come courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment.  James Bond, Volume 1 is written by Warren Ellis, drawn by Jason Masters, colored by Guy Major, and lettered by Simon Bowland.  Vol. 1 comprises two story arcs, with the second entitled “Eidolon.”

“Eidolon” began with a man named Mr. Hawkwood doing a little killing because someone exposed “Eidolon.”  On the 007 side of things, James Bond arrived in Los Angeles.  His mission was to extract fellow MI6 agent, Cadence Birdwhistle, from the Turkish Consulate.  Her cover was blown, and it was too late to fix things.  “Eidolon” turned out to be a stay-behind cell of the infamous SPECTRE, and now it had infiltrated the homeland protecting part of British Secret Service, MI5, which was out to put its foreign service counterpart, MI6, out of business.

As James Bond, Volume 1, #12 opens, Mr. Hawkwood initiates the endgame of his plot against MI6.  With most of his cell gone, he eschews subterfuge and goes directly at his enemy.  And he may be a bit too tough even for MI6 agent-extraordinaire, James Bond, to handle.

With that final panel of Bond having a smoke and simply saying “No,” Warren Ellis' run on Dynamite's James Bond comes to an end.  Even the cover art for issue #12 by Dom Reardon, with Bond striding into the background, his back to the viewer, says goodbye.  Bond's shadow casts a montage of images from “Eidolon.”  Maybe, Ellis has written Bond out of his system, but I hope for more Ellis Bond at some nebulous later date.  “Eidolon” has such an abrupt ending, so I think that the conclusion was rushed when it certainly could have breathed for at least another half-issue.

However, I have praised Ellis enough during his Bond run, and now, it is time to praise his artist and collaborator on “Vargr” (the first story) and “Eidolon,” Jason Masters.  I don't thing these two story arcs would work quite as well as they do without Masters.  His crisp, clean compositions and his ability to design pages that maximize action in a series of connected static images marks Masters as a masterful comic book storyteller.  Those skills turn “Eidolon” into a bracing, page-turning read.  I hope to see more of Masters soon, and I would hope Dynamite considers him as the go-to-artist to make other writers' Bond comics really work.

A

[This comic book includes an advanced preview of James Bond: Felix Lieter, written by James Robinson; drawn by Aaron Campbell; colored by Salvatore Aiala; and lettered by Simon Bowland; with a cover art by Mike Perkins and Andy Taylor.]

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


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

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Review: BART SIMPSON Bust-Up

BART SIMPSON BUST-UP
HARPERCOLLINS/Harper Design – @HarperCollins @harperdesignbks @TheSimpsons

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: John Zakour; Carol Lay; Sergio Aragones; David Seidman; Tom & Henry Gammill; Mary Trainor; Max Davison; Ian Boothby; Peter Kuper; Tony Digerolamo; John Jackson Miller; Evan Dorkin
PENCILS: John Delaney; Carol Lay; Sergio Aragones; Hilary Barta; Tone Rodriguez; John Costanza; Phil Ortiz; Peter Kuper; Jason Ho; Eric Shanower; James Lloyd; Rex Lindsey
INKS: Dan Davis; Carol Lay; Sergio Aragones; Hilary Barta; Tone Rodriguez; Phyllis Novin; Mike DeCarlo; Andrew Pepoy; Peter Kuper; Jason Ho; Eric Shanower
COLORS: Nathan Hamill; Peter Kuper & Minah Kim; Jason Ho; Art Villanueva
LETTERS: Karen Bates
COVER: Matt Groening
ISBN: 978-0-06-269255-9; paperback (April 3, 2018)
128pp, Color, $16.99 U.S., $21.00 CAN

Bart Simpson Bust-Up is a new trade paperback comic book collection from Harper Design.  Bart Simpson Bust-Up collects 18 comic book short stories and short gags that were published in various Bart Simpson comic books during the second half of 2012.

Bart Simpson is a character on the animated television sitcom, “The Simpsons,” produced first run for the Fox Broadcasting Company.  “The Simpsons” present a satirical depiction of a working class family which consists of Homer Simpson (the father), Marge Simpson (the mother), Bart (the oldest child and only son), Lisa (the precocious and brilliant elder daughter), and Maggie (a baby girl).  “The Simpsons” also parodies American culture, pop culture, society, politics, media, etc. via the denizens of The Simpsons home town, Springfield.

In 1993, Matt Groening (creator of “The Simpsons”), Bill Morrison, and Steve and Cindy Vance founded Bongo Comics Group (or simply Bongo Comics).  Over the course of a quarter-century, Bongo Comics has published numerous comic book series and single-issue publications based on “The Simpsons.”  The comic books have starred and featured all the characters that are part of this franchise, from the Simpsons clan to the various supporting characters, including Ralph Wiggum and his father, Chief Wiggum; Bart's pals, Milhouse and Nelson; Ned Flanders; and Principal Seymour Skinner, to name a few.

Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins, has been publishing a line of full-color, original trade paperbacks that reprint select stories from Bongo Comics' various Simpsons comic books.  The latest trade paperback, Bart Simpson Bust-Up, reprints issues #73 to #77 of Simpsons Comics Presents Bart Simpson (July 2012 to November 2012) and The Simpsons Summer Shindig #7 (May 2013).  Simpsons Comics Presents Bart Simpson or simply Bart Simpson was Bongo Comics' long-running comic book series starring Bart Simpson that ran from 2000 to 2016.

Bart Simpson Bust-Up opens with “Everybody Really Hates Bart,” and it is Bart's fault after one of his pranks creates a nightmare right out of a horror movie.  Then, Bart is the victim of Lisa's sociological experimentation in “Decisions, Decisions.”  It is a disaster of shoe proportions in “There's No Business Like Shoe Business,” with a little help from baby genius, Maggie Simpson.

Bart and Milhouse go “Into the Woods,” showing that these two boys are not scout material.  Bart, Milhouse, and Nelson are among the boys trying to impress the “New Girl in Town.”  Bart uses old coupons and causes a disaster in “ For a Limited Time Only.”  Finally, Bart uses all his wiles to bring comfort to his family in “Railroaded.”

Harper Design has been sending me review copies of its Simpsons trade paperback originals for the past few years.  Bart Simpson Bust-Up is the fourth one they have sent me, and I am delighted to say that it is the best.  That is saying a lot because I really liked the previous three Simpsons collections that I read.

Bart Simpson Bust-Up is filled with stories that are funny (obviously), but are also imaginative and inventive.  “Good Cop, Bart Cop” (story by Ian Boothby and art by John Delaney and Andrew Pepoy) is funny in a way that recalls the best entries in the Lethal Weapon film franchise (the first two).  “Into the Woods” has a killer “special bonus” panel to end the story.  No two stories are the same; each one is a surprising and novel treat.

In my review of the previous volume, Simpsons Comics Game On!, I wrote that one does not have to be a fan of “The Simpsons” to like it.  It is the same with Bart Simpson Bust-Up, which is filled with excellently crafted humor comics.  If you want funny comics, buy this collection.  If you are a fan of “The Simpsons,” Bart Simpson Bust-Up is too funny to pass up.

9.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: KENKA BANCHO OTOME Volume 1

KENKA BANCHO OTOMO: LOVE'S BATTLE ROYALE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Chie Shimada
TRANSLATION:  JN Productions
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9910-6; paperback (April 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Original concept by Spike Chunsoft; video game developed by Red Entertainment

Kenka Banchou is a series of video games that debuted in Japan a decade ago for the Playstation Portable.  The games follow the efforts of a male “bancho” (delinquent) to beat up other delinquents.  Manga creator, Chie Shimada, created a manga, entitled Kenka Bancho Otome: Girl Beats Boys, based on the game, but it focused on a female character as the lead.  VIZ Media is publishing that manga as a two-volume graphic novel series, entitled Kenka Bancho Otome: Loves's Battle Royale, under its “Shojo Beat” imprint.

Kenka Bancho Otome: Loves's Battle Royale, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 4) introduces Hinako Nakayama, an orphaned girl who is about to start her first day at the all-girls school, Kotobuki Girls' High School.  However, she accidentally bumps into a teen boy whose face looks just like her's.  His name is Hikaru Onigashima, and he is her long-lost twin.  Hikaru demands that because Hinako has hurt him, she must disguise herself to look like him and attend the opening ceremony at his new school, Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents – who fight all the time!

One might think that a girl has no chance of surviving a school where delinquent boys fight each other to be the #1 boss of his year.  Hinako is full of surprises, and so are some of the boys she meets.

The Kenka Bancho Otome manga has a familiar premise.  After all, dear readers, I just recently guided you through the shojo manga, So Cute it Hurts!!, from mangaka Go Ikeyamada.  That manga followed a twin brother-sister pair that looked identical, or whose faces looked close enough that they could pose as each other.

Kenka Bancho Otome: Loves's Battle Royale Graphic Novel Volume 1 introduces a similar plot of look-a-like twins taking each others place at school, in which the girl must play the tough.  The difference is that in Kenka Bancho Otome, its star female lead is actually quite capable of defending herself against bad boys.  However, the character writing in Kenka Bancho Otome is not as strong as it is in So Cute It Hurts!!

The male supporting characters have potential, but none of them really steps forward as a breakout male antagonist.  Hinako's brother, Hikaru, barely registers as a character; it is almost as if he is merely a throwaway piece used to explain how a girl ends up in an all-boys school.  Still Kenka Bancho Otome is a fun read, and this first volume does end with a tease of a new adversary for Hinako.  That plus Chie Shimada's beautiful art make this worth another look.  Fans of switched-identity shojo manga will want the Shojo Beat title, Kenka Bancho Otome: Loves's Battle Royale.

B
6 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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