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MAGAZINES
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BOOKS
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Monday, June 10, 2019
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Book Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA: School Briefs Volume 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
AUTHOR: Anri Yoshi; Kohei Horikoshi (original story)
ART: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
COVER: Kohei Horikoshi and Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0486-6; paperback (April 2, 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
248pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.
My Hero Academia is a shonen manga created by Kohei Horikoshi. It is set on an Earth where 80% of the human population have manifested superpowers called “Quirks.” If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy. What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20% born Quirkless? Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes. Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…
My Hero Academia: School Briefs is a new series of light novels (Japan's version of a “young adult” or “YA” novel) set in the world of My Hero Academia. The first novel in the series debuted in Japan in 2016 and, and the series currently stands at four volumes (as of this writing). VIZ Media publishes the My Hero Academia manga as a graphic novel series in North America. VIZ published the first School Briefs novel in North America in early April 2019 under the title, My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 1 (subtitled Parents' Day).
My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 1– Parents' Day opens at U.A. High in “Class 1-A,” the homeroom of taciturn teacher, Shota Aizawa. He informs Izuku Midoriya and the other students that the school is holding a “Parents' Day.” Not only are the students' parents invited to visit the school, but they will also get to hear their children read the letters of appreciation that they have written for their parents. It is enough to make the students of Class 1-A cringe, but little do they know that Parents' Day will be a lot more tense than they could ever imagine.
I cannot remember the last light novel published by VIZ Media that I read. It has been a few years since my VIZ Media rep has sent me one to review. The My Hero Academia manga is one of the best comics about youngsters dealing with superpowers that I have ever read, so I was looking forward to reading a novel set in that world.
In a note at the end of My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 1, Kohei Horikoshi, creator of My Hero Academia, says that this novel gives readers a chance to read about the series' characters going about their everyday lives. I have to admit that I enjoyed reading about these characters as ordinary teens, although, early in this novel, I wanted more action.
Writer Anri Yoshi is quite good at presenting the U.A. High kids as kids and teens, and Caleb Cook, who translates and adapts the My Hero Academia manga into English for VIZ Media, makes this dialogue-centric prose convey personality. This book is aimed at an audience that is far younger than I am, but, by my reading, I think My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 1 is a good start to a book series that will hopefully show more of the civilian side of life in the world of My Hero Academia.
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Friday, June 7, 2019
Review: CHAOS CAMPUS #24
APPROBATION COMICS
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Pramit Santra
COLORS: Russell Vincent Yu
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
EDITORS: B. Alex Thompson and John P. Ward
COVER: Kevin Wallace
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2015; digital release date – September 7, 2016)
Rated: Teen 13+ / 15+ Only – comiXology rating
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies created by B. Alex Thompson
“The Pink, Part 2 of 2”
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series. It is creation of B. Alex Thompson and is published by his company, Approbation Comics. The series is set during a zombie invasion and follows the adventures of three members of the sorority, Epsilon Alpha Zeta Upsilon (EAZY): ass-kickin’ Jamie Lynn Schaeffer, brainy and magic-wielding Paige Helena Patton, and sexy Brittany Ann Miller.
The current story line is “The Pink,” which finds the Chaos Campus trio and other zombie riot survivors in a house fighting an invisible enemy that arrived in a meteor. This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Pramit Santra; colored by Russell Vincent Yu; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #24 opens as Doctors Kim and Hollinger attempt to create a serum for the alien parasite that infects Pete. Their next patients will be Jamie, Paige, and Brittany, and as the parasite increases aggression and gives the infected amazing abilities, curing the girls will not be easy. Now, the infected Chaos trio can and want to deliver fatal beat-downs.
The “Pink” story line has been a nice change of pace, and since creator-writer B. Alex Thompson is often spoofing or parodying pop culture, the reader can play a game of naming the works of film and entertainment Thompson is referencing.
I see elements of the science fiction horror film, Species (1995), and the 1987 film, The Curse (which is also known as The Farm). I am also remind of the film version of Stephen King's 1976 short story, “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill,” which appeared as a segment of the 1982 film, Creepshow.
Thompson continues to expand the emotional range of the characters, so this gives Chaos Campus a sense of character beyond the comedy and parody. Pramit Santra's graphical storytelling here is good, and her jagged style fits the aggressive mood of the story and the infected characters tendency to tear their victims apart. Russell Vincent Yu's coloring serves this sense of aggression and flesh rending quite well. Plus, the ending bodes well for the next story arc.
7.5 out of 10
Buy Chaos Campus #24 at comiXology.
www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.
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Thursday, June 6, 2019
Review: KILLMONGER #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Bryan Hill
ART: Juan Ferreyra
COLORS: Juan Ferreyra
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Wil Moss
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Juan Ferreyra
VARIANT COVERS: Jason Pearson; Larry Stroman and Mark Morales with Jason Keith
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2019)
Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; Killmonger created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler
Parental Advisory
“By Any Means” Part One of Five
Erik Killmonger is a Marvel Comics supervillian and an enemy of Marvel's Black Panther. Born N'Jadaka, the son of N'Jobu, Killmonger was created by writer Don McGregor and artist Rich Buckler and first appeared in Jungle Action (Vol. 2) #6 (cover dated: September 1973). Killmonger, with an altered origin story, appeared in Marvel Studios film, Black Panther (2018), and was portrayed by actor Michael B. Jordan.
Killmonger is the star of his first comic book series, a five-issue miniseries also entitled Killmonger. It is written by Bryan Hill; drawn and colored by Juan Ferreyra; and lettered by Joe Sabino. The series will explore how and why Killmonger dedicated his life to revenge.
Killmonger #1 begins with an overview of the epic battle between Erik Killmonger and Black Panther/T'Challa (presumably the one depicted in the Black Panther film). The series then moves to the past, on the day that N'Jadaka leaves the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and spurns all the many incredible job offers he has received. Instead, N'Jadaka heads to New York City to kill Ulysses Klaue a.k.a. “Klaw.” However, his plans go awry, and he meets the NYC crime boss who may change the course of his life... if Killmonger lets that happen!
I am somewhat intrigued by this Killmonger miniseries. I like Bryan Hill's story, and Juan Ferreyra's illustrations have a painterly quality that plays up Hill's story with its atmosphere of tragedy and tragic destiny. However, I must say that I feel as if Killmonger is the Black Panther-related title that I don't have to have.
Killmonger is nice, but I am not passionate about it the way I was about Black Panther spin-off titles like Black Panther: World of Wakanda and Black Panther and the Crew. I can and will recommend Killmonger to Black Panther completists, even if I don't immediately claw my way back to it.
6 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Review: STAR WARS ADVENTURES Destroyer Down #1
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Scott Beatty
PENCILS: Derek Charm; Jon Sommariva
INKS: Derek Charm; Sean Parsons
COLORS: Derek Charm; Matt Herms
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
EDITORS: Bobby Curnow; Denton J. Tipton
COVER: Derek Charm
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jon Sommariva
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)
“Destroyer Down” Episode I: “Explore” and “The Ghost Ship” Part 1 “There and Then”
Star Wars Adventures is an all-ages Star Wars comic book series from IDW Publishing. The series is geared toward readers ages 7 to 10 and features one and two-part stories that are not steeped in Star Wars continuity. Star Wars Adventures features a rotating cast of characters, and the stories range from settings that take place before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace all the way up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) and beyond.
There have already been two spin-off miniseries, Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny (January 2018) and Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle (October 2018). Each was a five-issue miniseries published weekly. The third spin-off miniseries is entitled, Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down. This three-issue comic book miniseries is written by Scott Beatty. The stories are drawn by artist-colorist Derek Charm and the art team of Jon Sommariva (pencils), Sean Parsons (inks), and colorist Matt Herms. Tom B. Long letters the stories.
Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down #1 is set before the events depicted in the 2015 film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The first story, “Explore,” opens on Jakku, where the remnants of the Galactic Empire made its last stand.
Legend has it that the shifting sands of Jakku swallowed the Imperial Star Destroyer “Spectral.” It has been lost for two decades and rumors of hauntings and buried treasure have arisen around its legend. Now, an epic sandstorm has revealed the ruins of the Spectral, and the renowned scavenger, Rey, now races to claim whatever lies within. However, salvage and junk boss, Unkar Plutt, and a host of shady types plot to take whatever Rey finds and perhaps, also to harm her.
In the second story, “There and Then,” the Rebel Alliance fighter group, the “Shepherd Squadron,” engages remnants of the Imperial Navy in the last days of the Empire. It is, however, just a prelude to the last days of Spectral.
IDW Publishing declares in its press releases that its Star Wars Adventures comic books and its “Young Adult” titles are “dedicated to bringing the element of FUN back into comic books...” IDW sure has. I cannot think of a young adult or kids' comics title from the publisher that I have read that is not just fun to read, but is also a blast to read.
I could have read Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down #1 in one sitting even if it were 100 pages long. I plain love it. Destroyer Down may be better than Tales from Vader's Castle, which got better with each issue and turned out to be pretty damn awesome itself.
I think I have already praised artist Derek Charm Star Wars works to the heavens, but I am also a fan of Jon Sommariva's fantastic Star Wars Adventures art. Both are good storytellers who make wonderful Star Wars comic books that can be enjoyed by comics fans of all ages. Inker Sean Parsons and colorist Matt Herms also shine with their work on Destroyer Down #1, and letterer Tom B. Long delivers his usual stellar work.
With this series, Scott Beatty is showing that he is no slouch next to writers of Star Wars comic books for older readers. He has convinced me that this comic book is the shit, so I am going to recommend that we get down with Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down.
9 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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Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Review: CEMETERY BEACH #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Warren Ellis
ART: Jason Howard
COLORS: Jason Howard
LETTERS: Fonografiks
COVERS: Jason Howard
20pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2018)
Rated M/Mature
Cemetery Beach is a new comic book series from writer Warren Ellis and artist Jason Howard. Ellis and Howard are the creative team of the current ongoing comic book, Trees (Image Comics). Cemetery Beach is set on a secret Earth colony.
Cemetery Beach #1 introduces a world in which “a group of scientists and industrialists found and operated a method of travel off-world.” They eventually established an “off-world” colony. Now, Michael Blackburn, a professional pathfinder and “force reconnaissance” agent, has arrived from the home world to establish a safe beachhead. The denizens of this colony, however, do not want visitors from the home colony or (as one character calls its) “oldhome,” and they are willing to kill Blackburn and anyone who helps him to stop that.
Cemetery Beach #1 is exactly 20 pages long – all no story and no advertisements, even on the front and back covers and the inside of those covers. Like most Warren Ellis comic books, Cemetery Beach has an intriguing premise. Unlike many Ellis comic books, which can be talky even when they are suspenseful and tense, Cemetery Beach looks like it is going to be action-oriented, perhaps, in part because the kind of people with which the secret colony was populated, which Ellis can use to offer his bloody-thirty readers some ultra-violence.
Jason Howard illustrates and colors Cemetery Beach, and his graphical storytelling is bleak, edgy, and kinetic. Howard turns Ellis' concept and script into a first issue that seems determined to poke the readers in the eyes to keep them from learning too many secrets. However, this mean little opening chapter is so attractive that it is worth a minor eye injury or two in order to read these first 20 pages. Hell, I really wanted to reader another 20 or 30 pages of this right after I finished the first issue.
Cemetery Beach #1 is well-executed enough to make me anticipate the next issue and also, dear reader, to recommend it you science fiction comic book readers.
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 syndication rights and fees.
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Monday, June 3, 2019
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for June 5, 2019
BOOM! STUDIOS
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APR191189 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 CVR A ASPINALL $3.99
APR191190 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 CVR B WADA VAR $3.99
APR191191 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 CVR C BEEM VAR $3.99
MAR198865 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 FOC INFANTE SLAYER CVR $3.99
MAR198866 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 FOC INFANTE VAMP CVR $3.99
APR191192 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #5 PREORDER CAREY VAR $3.99
MAR198867 FIREFLY #5 (2ND PTG) $3.99
APR191243 GIANT DAYS #51 $3.99
DEC181336 HOTEL DARE ORIGINAL GN $9.99
APR191234 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #10 (OF 12) MAIN CVR DEWEY $3.99
APR191235 JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #10 (OF 12) PREORDER PETERSE $3.99
FEB191272 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS LOST CHRONICLES TP VOL 02 $16.99
APR191254 ROCKOS MODERN AFTERLIFE #3 MAIN CVR $3.99
APR191255 ROCKOS MODERN AFTERLIFE #3 PREORDER MCCORMICK VAR $3.99
MAR198868 RONIN ISLAND #4 FOC ANKA VAR $3.99
APR191223 RONIN ISLAND #4 MAIN $3.99
APR191224 RONIN ISLAND #4 PREORDER YOUNG VAR $3.99
FEB191265 THRILLING ADV HOUR TP VOL 02 RESIDENCE EVIL $16.99
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